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 22, 2010


Justified Before You

I. Readings
Psalms 123, 146, 30, 86
Numbers 16:20-35
Romans 4:1-12
Matthew 19:23-30

II. Selections
Psalm 86:5
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.

Numbers 16:22
[Moses and Aaron] fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one person sin and you become angry with the whole congregation?”

Romans 4:2
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Matthew 19:25
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?”

III. Meditation

We are greatly astounded by what we find in
the Bible about sin, punishment, and salvation.

We read of collective punishment, when—in spite of
mercy appeals from Moses and Aaron—men suffered
horrible deaths to punish them for their arrogance; and
their wives and children were even killed along with them.

Can this be? Then we read that good works are nothing to boast
about before you; and with the disciples we wonder, who can
be saved? However this may be, we know you are good and
forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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