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.

June 21, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 1, 33, 89:1-18
Numbers 11:24-35
Romans 1:28-2:11
Matthew 18:1-9

II. Selections
Psalm 1:6
...for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Numbers 11:25
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to [ Moses], and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.

Romans 2:4
Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Matthew 18:4
Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

III. Meditation: The problem with righteousness

The wicked versus the righteous-
often in the bible the distinction is clear,
the separation complete.
The wicked will perish,
or if fortunate will be permitted to repent;
whereas the righteous will enjoy your favor and protection.

Surely you intend us to strive for righteousness,
yet sometimes it seems to be a gift bestowed
without our knowledge or effort-consider the seventy elders.
Besides, self-made righteousness is apt to lack
what makes the child
greatest in your kingdom.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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