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.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit--May 28, 2019


O God, you have done marvelous things;
with you there is no shadow of change;
you shower down many gifts upon us,
but none to compare with your Spirit.
Soften our hearts and open our minds
to receive you, lest we begin to suppose
our own power and might are responsible.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 98; 146; 66; 116
Deut. 8:11-20
James 1:16-27
Luke 11:1-13

Selected Verses
Ps. 98:1a
O sing to the LORD a new song,
          for he has done marvelous things. 

Deut. 8:17
Do not say to yourself, "My power and the might of my own hand have gained me this wealth."

James 1:17
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Luke 11:13
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)