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.

December 12, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 17, 50, 53
Amos 8:1-14
Revelation 1:17-2:7
Matthew 23:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 53:2
God looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.

Amos 8:12
They shall wander from sea to sea,
and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD,
but they shall not find it.

Revelation 2:4-5a
" ...But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. ... "

Matthew 23:2-3
"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. ... " [ Jesus to the crowds and his disciples]

III. Meditation: Are there any who are wise?

Is it possible to teach your word if we do not practice it?
To seek after your word, and not practice it if we find it?
To love you once in our life, and then abandon such love?
If you look down from heaven to see, are any of us wise?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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