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.

For the Sake of Appearance--June 20, 2013


 Jesus, Crucified One, whom God
has made both Lord and Messiah,

do not repay us according to our work;
Lord, forgive our greedy eye when we
grow rich at the expense of the poor.

And forgive us if we try to cover up
with sanctimonious prayers.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62
1 Sam. 2:27-36
Acts 2:22-36
Luke 20:41-21:4

Selected Verses

Ps. 62:12b
For you repay to all
          according to their work.

1 Sam. 2:27a, 29
A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus the LORD has said, …'Why then look with greedy eye at my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded, and honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’  …"

Acts 2:36
"…Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”  [Peter preaching to the crowd at Pentecost]

Luke 20:47
"…[The scribes] devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”  [Jesus to his disciples, in the hearing of all the people]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)