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.

For Our Own Good--May 22, 2019



Though I know you are a God of compassion,
O Lord, for my own good, and for the good of your people,
I tremble when I think how we have departed from your way.
When I consider our works of darkness, and that nothing
is hidden that will not be disclosed, and that the night
is far gone and the day is near when all will come
to light, then the earth quakes beneath me.
Surely, Lord, it is time to lay aside
the works of darkness and to
put on the armor of light.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 99; 147:1-11; 9; 118
Jer. 32:36-44
Rom. 13:1-14
Luke 8:16-25

Selected Verses
Ps. 99:1
The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble!
          He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 

Jer. 32:39
I will give [my people] one heart and one way, that they may fear me for all time, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 

Rom. 13:12
…the night is far gone, the day is near.  Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light…

Luke 8:17
"…For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.  [Jesus, to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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