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.

August 20, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 112, 135
2 Samuel 17:24-18:8
Acts 22:30-23:11
Mark 11:12-26

II. Selections
Psalm 112:1
Praise the LORD!
Happy are those who fear the LORD,
who greatly delight in his commandments

2 Samuel 18:3
But the men said [ to King David], "You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city."

Acts 23:2
Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near [ Paul] to strike him on the mouth.

Mark 11:15
Then [ Jesus and the twelve disciples] came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves ...

III. Meditation: The powerful and us

How shall we relate to those who hold power?

David's men would not permit him to risk his life
in the battle against the army of his son Absalom.

Paul responded in anger to the order that he be struck on the mouth,
but then apologized when he learned the offender was high priest.

When Jesus cleansed the temple,
the authorities sought to kill him.

Ultimate power belongs to you;
should we not hold you in awe?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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