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.

Great Grace Be Upon Us--June 22, 2019

[From June 24, 2017 archive]

God, when desolation has drawn near,
and in defeat we flee, then remind us
of Jesus, and of his resurrection.

May this increase our strength of soul,
and may great grace be upon us all.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 104; 149, 138; 98
1 Sam. 4:1b-11
Acts 4:32-5:11
Luke 21:20-28

Selected Verses
Ps. 138:3
On the day I called, you answered me,
          you increased my strength of soul.

1 Sam. 4:10
So the Philistines fought; Israel was defeated, and they fled, everyone to his home. 

Acts 4:33
With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 

Luke 21:20
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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