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.

Not Far from Your Kingdom?--Aug. 22, 2013


 O God, when King David absolved Shimei for cursing him,
when Felix granted some liberty and kindness to Paul,
when the scribe made a wise answer to Jesus,
they were not far from your kingdom.

Sometimes we feel we are not far,
without being sure we are in it.
Do not hide your face from us.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 36; 147:12-20; 80; 27
2 Sam. 19:1-23
Acts 24:1-23
Mark 12:28-34

Selected Verses

Ps. 27a
            Do not hide your face from me.

2 Sam. 19:22b-23a
"…Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day?  For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?”  The king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.”  [David reprimands Abishai for suggesting death for Shimei.]

Acts 24:23
Then [Governor Felix] ordered the centurion to keep [Paul] in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.

Mark 12:34a
When Jesus saw that [the scribe] answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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