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.

The Right of the Lowly and Destitute--Oct. 7, 2013


 The whole town came to meet you, Jesus;
they begged you to leave their neighborhood.
Did someone lead the people in this gross mistake?

King Manasseh led his people astray--not only did he
shed very much innocent blood, but he caused his
subjects to do what was evil in your sight.

Through the gift of your one bread you give
us who are part of your body power to resist bad
leadership; power to be a force for justice to the weak;
power to maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.

Lord Jesus, teach us how to use our power wisely and
in keeping with your will; but may we not fear
to use it for justice to the weak and orphan.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5; 145; 82; 29
2 Kings 21:1-18
1 Cor. 10:14-11:1
Matt. 8:28-34

Selected Verses

Ps. 82:3
 "…Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
          maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.  …"
[God to the divine council]

2 Kings 21:16
Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he caused Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.

1 Cor. 10:17
Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Matt. 8:34
Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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