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.

When Our Hearts Condemn Us--April 19, 2021


 When our hearts condemn us, is it because

we have not shown mercy to the oppressed, 

 

or brought good news to the poor, 

or sought release to the captives,

or recovery of sight to the blind?

 

God, you are greater than our hearts,

and you know what is in them. 

Your compassion is over 

all you have made.

 

In Christ forgive us,

and fill our hearts

with compassion.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115

Dan. 4:19-27

1 John 3:19-4:6

Luke 4:14-30

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 145:9

The Lord is good to all,
          and his compassion is over all that he has made.

 

Dan. 4:27

“…Therefore, O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged.”  [Daniel, to King Nebuchadnezzar]  

 

1 John 3:19-20

And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 

 

Luke 4:18-19

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
          to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
          to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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