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.

Renew Our Hearts--Nov. 16, 2021

[From Nov. 20, 2007 archive]

 

You are able to make all things new.

You cured the boy with a demon.

You gave slaves their freedom.

 

Will you also renew our hearts—

take away the mischief in them,

so that we mean what we say?

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99

Ezra 9:1-15

Rev. 21:1-8

Matt. 17:14-21

 

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.

 

Ezra 9:9a

“…For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia…”  [Ezra’s prayer of repentance, upon learning of his people’s many mixed marriages]

 

Rev. 21:5a

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”

 

Matt. 17:18

And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of [the boy], and the boy was cured instantly.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)