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.

To Guard Against All Kinds of Greed--May 1, 2016


Lord God,

You give to all generously and ungrudgingly,
for great is your steadfast love toward us,
and your faithfulness endures forever.

We ask you to give us wisdom, that we may be on guard
against all kinds of greed—honest in our dealings with
one another, and remembering there is more to
our lives than an abundance of possesions.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 93; 150; 136; 117
Lev. 25:1-17
James 1:2-8, 16-18
Luke 12:13-21

Selected Verses
Ps. 117:2
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
          and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!

Lev. 25:17
You shall not cheat one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God.

James 1:5
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 

Luke 12:15
And [Jesus] said to [the crowd], “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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