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.

May 26, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 49, 96, 138
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Ephesians 2:1-10
Matthew 7:22-27

II. Selections
Psalm 49:10
When we look at the wise, they die;
fool and dolt perish together
and leave their wealth to others.

1 Samuel 2:3
Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.

Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved ...

Matthew 7:24
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. ..."

III. Meditation: The fate of the wise
The fate of the wise
and the fate of the fool
are alike-
they die
and leave their accumulations
behind them.

Proud words,
arrogant chatter-
worse than useless.
You weigh actions
against wise speech
and find the actions wanting.

Real wisdom belongs to you
and comes from you.
Wisdom is to build our lives on your rock,
for you are rich in mercy.
Out of the great love with which you love us,
you make us alive together with Christ.

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