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.

July 12, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 96, 132, 134
Deuteronomy 1:1-18
Romans 9:1-18
Matthew 23:27-39

II. Selections
Psalm 96:5
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.

Deuteronomy 1:8
" ...See, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land that I swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them and to their descendants after them." [ Moses, relaying the words of God]

Romans 9:14
What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!

Matthew 23:27-39
" ...See, your house is left to you, desolate. ..."

III. Meditation: Injustice?

O God, who made the heavens,
you have set your gifts before us;
and you invite us to claim
what you have given.

But we abuse your gifts,
worship idols we have made,
and our lives are left desolate.
Is this injustice?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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