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.

To Listen, and to Speak--Aug. 7, 2020

 

Help us do what you tell us, Lord Jesus.

Happy are those whose strength is in you,

for in your heart are the highways to God.

 

Grant that boldly we may speak your word,

even if to be heard we must cry it out

from the top of a mountain.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40

Judg. 9:1-16, 19-21

Acts 4:13-31

John 2:1-12

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 84:5

Happy are those whose strength is in you,
          in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

 

Judg. 9:7

When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.  …”

 

Acts 4:29

“…And now, Lord, look at [the chief priests’ and elders’] threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness…”  [Peter and John, to their friends]

 

John 2:5

[Jesus’] mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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