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.

Tread Down My Foes--Oct. 24, 2021

[From Oct. 27, 2019 archive]

 

O Lord God of Hosts, I have many foes—

but most of them are my inner failings.

I always want to justify myself;

help me more accurately

understand your Way.

 

The treasures we call ours

all belong to you, as do our lives.

The stranger in distress is our neighbor. 

Our inner foes are strong; tread them down.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 108; 150; 66; 23

Haggai 1:1-2:9 OR Jer. 44:15-30

Acts 18:24-19:7

Luke 10:25-37

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 108:13

With God we shall do valiantly;
          it is he who will tread down our foes.

 

Haggai 2:8

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.

 

Acts 18:26

[Apollos] began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.

 

Luke 10:29

But wanting to justify himself, [the lawyer] asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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