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.

Help Me Mind My Tongue--Nov. 17, 2020

Note: Selections in today's lectionary include Habakkuk 3:1-18.  I once composed words for a hymn based on verses 17-19 of this chapter.  In past years when the lectionary arrived here I have strayed from my usual postings and substituted words to the hymn, together with a Thanksgiving sermon based on them.  If you are a longtime follower, I will not inflict this upon you again, but others may want to click on “Though the Fig Tree Does Not Blossom” in the Nov. 20, 2012 archive (see archive list on left). Incidentally, that post has drawn far more visitors than any of my others—but I suspect many were gardeners in search of horticultural advice. 

O God of my salvation, I rejoice in you,

but if I bless you with my tongue

and curse ones made in your image;

 

if I speak peace to my neighbor

with mischief in my heart;

 

and worst of all, 

if I cause a little one to stumble,

forgive me O God, and help me

mind my tongue.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99

Hab. 3:1-18

James 3:1-12

Luke 17:1-10

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 28:3

Do not drag me away with the wicked,
          with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
          while mischief is in their hearts.

 

Hab. 3:18

…yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
     I will exult in the God of my salvation.

 

James 3:9-10

With [the tongue] we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.

 

Luke 17:2

“…It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble.  …”  [Jesus, to his disciples]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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