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.

Persistence--June 8, 2020


Be the strength of my heart,
my portion forever, O God.

When others tell me truth
that I do not wish to hear,
forfend that anger should
ever make me deaf to it.

And when my way to you
is blocked, grant me faith
to persist till I find a way.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9
Eccl. 7:1-14
Gal. 4:12-20
Matt. 15:21-28

Selected Verses
Ps. 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail,
          but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Eccl. 7:9
Do not be quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. 

Gal. 4:16
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 

Matt. 15:27-28a
[The Canaanite woman] said [to Jesus], “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”  Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish.”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)