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.

Riches that Are Important--Sept. 14, 2015


King Ahab knew what he wanted,
and wife Jezebel knew how to get it for him--
only the life of a poor farmer stood in the way.

The devil thought he knew what Jesus wanted
and offered him the riches and splendor of all
the kingdoms of the world, but Jesus declined.

Paul knew what kind of riches were important:
enrichment in Christ, in speech and knowledge
of every kind, to strengthen others.

The psalmist knew, too--distribute
freely, and give to the poor.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112
1 Kings 21:1-16
1 Cor. 1:1-19
Matt. 4:1-11

Selected Verses
Ps. 112:9a
[The righteous] have distributed freely, they have given to the poor…

1 Kings 21:15
As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.”

1 Cor. 1:4-6
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind--just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you…

Matt. 4:8
Again, the devil took [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor…

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