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 08, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 6, 20, 88
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Luke 18:9-14

II. Selections
Psalm 88:14
O LORD, why do you cast me off?
Why do you hide your face from me?

Deuteronomy 26:6-7
When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.

2 Corinthians 8:21
...for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of others.

Luke 18:13
" ...But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' ... " [ Jesus, to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt]

III. Meditation: Cast off

Why do you cast us off and hide your face from us?
When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us,
we cried to you, and you heard us-why not now?

We intend to do what is right in your sight, and in the sight of others.
Is our emphasis the problem? Are we so eager to impress other people
that we focus on our own righteousness, forgetting to repent our sins?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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