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.

For All Who Are Persecuted--July 2, 2021

[From July 3, 2015  archive]

 

Lord Jesus, why do we persecute you still? 

Many people followed you on your way to the cross, 

women beat their breasts and wailed for you. 

 

In many countries there is terrible warfare, 

and there is panic in the cities and in the countryside; 

even the warriors tremble at the persecution. 

 

Be gracious to them, Jesus; you know what 

it is like to be persecuted; you suffer with the victims. 

Heal them, whose bones shake with terror. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20

1 Sam. 13:19-14:15

Acts 9:1-9

Luke 23:26-31

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 6:2 

Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; 
          O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror. 

 

1 Sam.14:15 

There was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked; and it became a very great panic. 

 

Acts 9:4 

[Saul] fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 

 

Luke 23:27 

A great number of the people followed [Jesus, on his way to be crucified], and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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