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 24, 2010


What Favor?

I. Readings
Psalms 36, 147:12-20, 80, 27
Numbers 17:1-11
Romans 5:1-11
Matthew 20:17-28

II. Selections
Psalm 27:5
For he will hide me in his shelter
      in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
      he will set me high on a rock.

Numbers 17:5
And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout; thus I will put a stop to the complaints of the Israelites that they continually make against you. [The LORD to Moses]

Romans 5:3-5
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Matthew 20:21
And [Jesus] said to [the mother of the sons of Zebedee], “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

III. Meditation

What favor do you promise us, Jesus?
To perform a miracle in support of our leadership?
To hide us in the day of trouble, protecting us from harm?
To give us a special place in your kingdom?

No, these are not the favors you promise.
You promise that we will endure suffering, as you did.
You promise that your suffering will help us to endure ours.
You promise that in the midst of our suffering, your love will
be poured into our hearts. Is there a better favor?
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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