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.

Not Made Righteous--Sept. 19, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 67, 150, 46, 93
Esther 3:1-4:3
James 1:19-27
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

II. Selections
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God!
      I am exalted among the nations,
      I am exalted in the earth.”

Esther 4:3
In every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

James 1:26
If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.

Matthew 6:1
“…Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. … ” [Jesus to his disciples and the crowds on the mountain]

III. Meditation

I am not made righteous
by impressing others with my piety.

I am not righteous if I deceive my heart
and cannot bridle my tongue.

I am not righteous if I do not mourn
with the oppressed and try to rescue them.

Perhaps I should not be concerned
over how righteous I am;

perhaps I should be still before you,
O truly righteous one, while your name is exalted.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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