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.

What of Those Who Do Not Know the Spirit?--Sept. 26, 2018


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Spirit, you led Jesus through the wilderness,
where he was tempted by the devil.
Surely you were with him,
even then.

Spirit, there are some who
do not know you, though; some
who may never have heard of you.
Will you protect them, deliver them,
answer them when they call?
Are you like a human king,
who lies awake at night,
asking whom he
must honor?
Or are you
more accepting
about whom you love?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91
Esth. 6:1-14
Acts 19:1-10
Luke 4:1-13

Selected Verses
Ps. 147:3
[The LORD] heals the brokenhearted,
          and binds up their wounds. 
Ps. 91:14-15
Those who love me, I will deliver;
          I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them;
          I will be with them in trouble,
          I will rescue them and honor them.

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Esth. 6:6
So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?" 

Acts 19:1b-2
…Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples.  He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?"  They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 

Luke 4:1-2a
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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