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.

Reasons to Rejoice--June 13, 2019



Gracious God,
you give us many reasons
to rejoice:

The pleasure
we find in sexual love;
our happiness
when you answer prayer;
the praises we sing
over your deeds of power;
and most remarkably,
Paul’s gratitude for his weaknesses.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 116; 147:12-20; 26; 130
Song Solom. 1:1-3, 9-11, 15-16a; 2:2-3a
2 Cor. 12:1-10
Luke 19:28-40

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:1
I love the LORD, because he has heard
          my voice and my supplications. 

Song Solom. 2:2-3a
As a lily among brambles,
            so is my love among maidens.
As an apple tree among the trees of the wood,
            so is my beloved among men.

2 Cor. 12:10
Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Luke 19:37
As [Jesus] was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen…

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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