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.

Some Walk Upright, Others Stumble--Oct. 18, 2014


The builders thought they knew
which was the right stone
to use for the corner.
They did not.

The disciples
felt they knew who
were your true followers,
but like the builders were wrong.

O dear God, your ways are right;
the upright walk in them,
but transgressors
stumble.

Make us wise,
make us discerning,
to know and to understand,
lest we end up with the stumblers.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 56; 149; 118; 111
Hosea 14:1-9
Acts 28:17-31
Luke 9:37-50

Selected Verses
Ps. 118:22
The stone that the builders rejected
          has become the chief cornerstone. 

Hosea 14:9
Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them.  For the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Acts 28:24
Some [of the leaders of the Jews in Rome] were convinced by what [Paul] had said, while others refused to believe. 

Luke 9:49-50
John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us."  But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you."

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