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 23, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 112, 135
Numbers 16:1-19
Romans 3:21-31
Matthew 19:13-22

II. Selections
Psalm 135:3
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for he is gracious.

Numbers 16:10
" ...[ The LORD] has allowed you to approach him and all your brother Levites with you; yet you seek the priesthood as well! ... " [ Moses to Korah]

Romans 3:22b-23
For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ...

Matthew 19:14
...but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs."

III. Meditation: To such as these

We praise you, for you are good;
we sing to your name, for you are gracious.

But we are full of envy and pride and ambition-
if we are Levites, we want to be priests as well.

We have all sinned; we all fall short of your glory.
Take away our hubris; make us like little children.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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