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.

A Sharp Sickle in Your Hand, Jesus?--Nov. 6, 2018


Lord Jesus, I can imagine you wearing a golden crown,
even seated on a white cloud, but not with
a sharp sickle in your hand.

Likewise, I can contemplate your impatience with us
when we never bear the fruit you want,
but not your haste to cut down.

My picture of you is in command of steadfast love
by day, with a song of comfort by night,
as I pray to the God of my life.  

Forgive me, Lord, if in this I err.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133
Zeph. 1:14-18
Rev. 14:14-15:8
Luke 13:1-9

Selected Verses
Ps. 42:8
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
          and at night his song is with me,
          a prayer to the God of my life.


Zeph. 1:14
The great day of the Lord is near,
     near and hastening fast…

Rev. 14:14
Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand! 

Luke 13:6-7
Then [Jesus] told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.  So he said to the gardener, 'See here!  For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none.  Cut it down!  Why should it be wasting the soil?'  …" 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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