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's Up to Me--June 25, 2012


I can believe that the desire of the wicked comes to
nothing; but that is between you and them,
probably not up to me.

If the wicked come before you with an offering,
I may feel like begging you to reject it;
but it is not up to me.

Sometimes I feel that parents of little children
are too inclined to push them forward,
but it is not my place to say so.

All have sinned and fallen short of your glory,
and we are all justified by your grace.
My part is gratitude for the gift.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112
Numb. 16:1-19
Rom. 3:21-31
Matt. 19:13-22

Selected Verses
Ps. 112:10
The wicked see it and are angry;
      they gnash their teeth and melt away;
      the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

Numb. 16:15
Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, "Pay no attention to [Korah and company's] offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed any one of them."

Rom. 3:22b-24a
For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift…

Matt. 19:13
Then little children were being brought to [Jesus] in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them…
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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