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.


Humble, but not Insecure--March 26, 2012


Moses wanted God to send someone else
because his opinion of himself was too poor.

Jesus reprimanded his disciples because
their opinions of themselves were too great.

Paul cautioned the Corinthians not to become
so enamored of speaking in tongues that
they only confused their listeners.

In your steadfast love make us humble,
but help us strike the right balance.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 119:73-80; 145; 121; 6
Exod. 4:10-31
1 Cor. 14:1-19
Mark 9:30-41

Selected Verses
Ps. 119:75-76
I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right,
      and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Let your steadfast love become my comfort
      according to your promise to your servant.

Exod. 4:13-14a
But [Moses] said, "O my Lord, please send someone else." Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, "What of your brother Aaron, the Levite? …"

1 Cor. 14:9
So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

Mark 9:33-34
Then [Jesus and his disciples] came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.

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