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.

Shame: Good or Bad?--Oct. 1, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 84, 148, 25, 40
Hosea 4:11-19
Acts 21:37-22:16
Luke 6:12-26

II. Selections
Psalm 25:3
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Hosea 4:16
Like a stubborn heifer,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Israel is stubborn;
can the LORD now feed them
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp like a lamb in a broad pasture?

Acts 22:11
“…Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus. … ” [Paul to the mob who had dragged him out of the temple]

Luke 6:22-23
“…Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. … ” [Jesus to his disciples and a great multitude who had come to hear him and be healed]

III. Meditation

Are we more blinded by our stubbornness
or by the bright light that exposes our sin?

The psalmist wants to avoid all shame—
let shame be reserved for wanton sinners.

But Jesus, you tell us shame will be heaped
on those faithful to you, and to leap for joy.

Hard teaching for stubborn hearts like ours—
we who are too stubborn to let you feed us,
too proud to let anyone lead us by the hand.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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