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.


What Do You See, O God?--Dec. 7, 2011



You look on humankind,
and what do you see?

Those who trample on the needy
and bring to ruin the poor of the land?

Those who tie heavy burdens on others
but are not willing to lift a finger to help them?

You who have the keys of Death and Hades--
you who were dead, but now alive forever and ever--

do you see any who are wise,
any who seek after you?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 50; 147:1-11; 53; 17
Amos 8:1-14
Rev. 1:17-2:7
Matt. 23:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 53:2
God looks down from heaven on humankind
      to see if there are any who are wise,
      who seek after God.

Amos 8:4
"…Hear this, you that trample on the needy,
      and bring to ruin the poor of the land…" [The Lord GOD, speaking to Amos]

Rev. 1:18b
"…I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. …" [One like the Son of Man, speaking to the writer]

Matt. 23:4
"…[The scribes and Pharisees] tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. …" [Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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