I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

Even the Young Ravens, when They Cry--Aug. 15, 2018


[From Aug. 10, 2016 archive]

Beneficent God, you know
our need for food and water.
You give to the animals their food,
 and to the young ravens when they cry.
Manoah offered food to your messenger,
and when thirsty, Jesus asked for water.
Forgive us when we neglect to nourish
the hungry and attend to the thirsty,
especially the children, whether
near us or far away.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 89:1-18; 147:1-11; 1; 33
Judges 13:15-24
Acts 6:1-15
John 4:1-26

Selected Verses
Ps. 147:9
[The LORD] gives to the animals their food,
          and to the young ravens when they cry. 

Judges 13:15
Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "Allow us to detain you, and prepare a kid for you."

Acts 6:1
Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 

John 4:7-8
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."  (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.)

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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