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.

Not Empty Hands, but Hands of Love--May 13, 2022


[From April 27, 2018 archive]

 

Your steadfast love, O God, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands;

fulfill your purpose for me, I pray.  

 

You abound in love for us, O Christ;

may we abound in love for one another.

 

Do not let my hands, nor any part of me, 

fail to serve you with love; do not let me

appear before you with empty hands. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 96; 148; 49; 138

Exod. 34:18-35

1 Thess. 3:1-13

Matt. 5:27-37

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 138:9

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; 
          your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. 
          Do not forsake the work of your hands.

 

Exod. 34:19c

No one shall appear before me empty-handed.  [The LORD to Moses, for the people]

 

1 Thess. 3:12

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 

 

Matt. 5:30

“… And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.  …”  [Jesus, to the crowd on the mountain]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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