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 13, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 30, 86, 123
1 Kings 21:17-29
1 Corinthians 1:20-31
Matthew 4:12-17

II. Selections
Ps. 123:3
Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,
for we have had more than enough of contempt.

1 Kings 21:17
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession.

1 Cor. 1:27-29
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.

Matt. 4:12
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.

III. Meditation: More than enough of contempt
The weak, the low and despised in the world have had more than enough of contempt. Have mercy on them, O God. Naboth was murdered by King Ahab, who was contemptuous of his property rights. John the Baptist was arrested and beheaded by Herod, who may have feared him but held in contempt his right to justice. And what of us, we who today are strong in our privilege and power, we who boast in our knowledge and wisdom? Are you ready to send an Elijah to meet us in the vineyard we have taken into our possession? Will the foolish and weak in the world shame us, reduce us to nothing? Have mercy upon us when we boast in your presence and ignore their plight.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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