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.

August 11, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 62, 97
2 Samuel 15:1-18
Acts 21:27-36
Mark 10:32-45

II. Selections
Ps. 97:12
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

2 Sam. 15:5-6
Whenever people came near to do obeisance to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of them, and kiss them. Thus Absalom did to every Israelite who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

Acts 21:34
Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another; and as [ the Roman tribune] could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered [ Paul] to be brought into the barracks.

Mark 10:32
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him ...

III. Meditation: Whom to trust
We have a hard time knowing whom to trust. In a scheme to usurp the throne from his father, Absalom managed to undercut the affection the common people had felt for David. The crowd in the temple was ready to accept lies about Paul, and nearly killed him in a riot before the Roman tribune-who did not know whom to believe-could rescue him. The disciples even had a hard time accepting the truth from Jesus when he described for them what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem; but he is the One upon whom we can rely. We rejoice in you, O God, and give thanks to your holy name!

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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