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.

A Rich Man's Dilemma--June 8, 2013


 Compared to the rest of the world, I am very rich,
but it seems I am lacking some of your gifts.
Did you forget to give me a mind to understand;
or run short of eyes to see, or ears to hear?

Is that why I can be glad in you, rejoice in you,
even thank you for your indescribable gift,
but still keep my wealth for myself--still refuse
to give it to the poor and follow you?

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
Deut. 29:2-15
2 Cor. 9:1-15
Luke 18:15-30

Selected Verses

Ps. 149:2
 Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
          let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

Deut. 29:4
But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, or eyes to see, or ears to hear.

2 Cor. 9:15
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Luke 18:22b-23
"…Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."  But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich.  [Jesus and the rich ruler]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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