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.

Gladness that Silver Cannot Buy--Aug. 22, 2018



When we think we have lost everything,
that we have nothing left,
remind us, dear God, of the child's lunch
with which you fed a multitude.
Gracious God, put gladness in our hearts,
gladness that silver cannot buy.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4
Judges 18:16-31
Acts 8:14-25
John 6:1-15

Selected Verses
Ps. 4:7
You have put gladness in my heart
          more than when their grain and wine abound.

Judges 18:24a
[Micah] replied [to the Danites, "You take my gods that I made, and the priest, and go away, and what have I left?  …" 

Acts 8:20
But Peter said to [Simon], "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money!  …"

John 6:8-9
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to [Jesus], "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.  But what are they among so many people?" 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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