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.

September 01, 2005

I. Readings
Psalm 26, 116, 130
1 Kings 11:1-13
James 3:13-4:12
Mark 15:12-21

II. Selections
Psalm 116:3
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.

1 Kings 11:4
For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.

James 3:16
For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.

Mark 15:14
Pilate asked them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him!"

III. Meditation: Envy and selfish ambition, disorder and wickedness
Where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. Disorder and wickedness followed the selfish ambition of Solomon. Far greater disorder and wickedness came from the selfish ambition of Pilate and the envy of the mob. Then the snares of death encompassed Jesus; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on him; he suffered distress and anguish.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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