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.

We Reject what God Values--Oct. 21, 2017

[From Oct. 15, 2005 archive]

The captain of the guard left behind
some of the poorest people of the land. 
We who consider ourselves important
are always dismissing the ones
whom you value. 

We would have disdained as delusional agitator
the prophet you sent to prepare the way. 
We would have rejected as worthless
the stone you made chief cornerstone. 
We would have left Christ for dead;
you raised him, the first fruits
of those who have died. 

You do marvelous things;
give us eyes to see them.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 56; 149; 118; 111
Jer. 52:1-34
1 Cor. 15:12-29
Matt. 11:7-15

Selected Verses
Ps. 118:22-23
The stone that the builders rejected
            has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the LORD's doing;
            it is marvelous in our eyes.

Jer. 52:16
But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people of the land to be vinedressers and tillers of the soil.

1 Cor. 15:20
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.

Matt. 11:10
"…[John the Baptist] is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'  …"  [Jesus to the crowds]

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