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.

September 04, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 7, 12, 36
1 Kings 8:65-9:9
James 2:14-26
Mark 14:66-72

II. Selections
Psalm 12:2
They utter lies to each other
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

1 Kings 9:9
" ...Then they will say, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, worshiping them and serving them; therefore the LORD has brought this disaster upon them.'" [ The LORD, to King Solomon]

James 2:15
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?

Mark 14:66-72b
Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.

III. Meditation: Lies, flattering lips, and a double heart

You brought us out of Egypt,
and we have forsaken you.
You have given us your all,
and we have denied we know you.

We tell the poor we love them,
but we speak with a double heart;
for we do not supply their needs-
what is the good of that?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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