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, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 62, 97
1 Samuel 2:27-36
Acts 2:22-36
Luke 20:41-21:4

II. Selections
Psalm 62:1
For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.

1 Samuel 2:29a
"' ...Why then look with greedy eye at my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded ... '" [ A man of God speaking for the LORD to Eli]

Acts 2: 36
" ...Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." [ Peter addressing the crowd at Pentecost]

Luke 20:21:1-2
[ Jesus] looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

III. Meditation: The things we give

The widow gave of herself plus two small coins,
the rich their greater gifts, selves not included.
Sons of Eli cast greedy eye on all the giving.

The gift of your Son makes trifling our gifts to you,
for you have made him both Lord and Messiah.
In silence we await him, who is our salvation.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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