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.

Liable--September 12, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 19, 150, 81, 113
Job 38:1, 18-41
Revelation 18:1-8
Matthew 5:21-26

II. Selections
Psalm 19:1
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
      and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Job 38:33
“…Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
      Can you establish their rule on the earth? … ”
[The LORD answers Job]

Revelation 18:7b-8
“…Since in her heart [Babylon] says,
      ‘I rule as a queen;
I am no widow,
      and I will never see grief,’
therefore her plagues will come in a single day—
      pestilence and mourning and famine—
and she will be burned with fire;
      for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. … ”
[A voice from heaven speaking to the narrator]

Matthew 5:22
“…But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. … ” [Jesus to his disciples and the crowds on the mountain]

III. Meditation

We are liable for severe judgment when angry with a sister
or brother in the faith, more so if expressed in harsh words.

Worse yet is to presume we are in charge of the world,
with no need for you, and no submission to your rule.

But if we consider the wonders you have created,
how can we be anything but humble before you?

Help us then realize—if we know how to rule neither heavens nor
earth, at least we must learn to live together in peace and in love.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)