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 Your Hand is Heavy--June 21, 2021

[From June 26, 2017 archive]

 

When it seems your hand is heavy upon us, O God, 

let this be a reminder to pray for the strength 

to stand and tell (by words or actions) 

the whole message about life —

how you are good to all, 

with compassion for  

all you have made. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112

1 Sam. 5:1-12

Acts 5:12-26

Luke 21:29-36

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 145:9

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

 

1 Sam. 5:11

[The people of Ekron] sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people."  For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city.  The hand of God was very heavy there…

 

Acts 5:19

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought [the apostles] out [of prison], and said, "Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life." 

 

Luke 21:36

"…Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."  [Jesus, to his disciples]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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