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 You Put Gladness in Our Heart--Nov. 10, 2021

[From Nov. 15, 2017 archive]

 

Lord Jesus, you took loaves and fish

and gave thanks; then you broke

and shared them, and all experienced

the pleasure of eating together.

 

When you put gladness in our hearts,

it is a time to celebrate your gifts—

to eat and drink and share with others—

because your joy is our strength.

 

At such times no magnate on earth,

regardless how great the wealth

gained by deceptive merchandizing,

can know as much happiness.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4

Neh. 7:73b-8:3, 5-18

Rev. 18:21-24

Matt. 15:29-39

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 4:7

You have put gladness in my heart 
          more than when their grain and wine abound.

 

Neh. 8:10

Then [Nehemiah] said to [the people], “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

 

Rev. 18:23b

“…for your merchants were the magnates of the earth, 
          and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. …”

[A mighty angel to Babylon]

 

Matt. 15:36

…[Jesus] took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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