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.

October 15, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 56, 111, 118
Jeremiah 52:1-34
1 Corinthians 15:12-29
Matthew 11:7-15

II. Selections
Psalm 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.

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

Matthew 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.'

III. Meditation: Rejecting what you value
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 a delusional agitator the prophet you sent to prepare the way. We would have rejected as worthless the stone that you made the 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.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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