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.

Like Grasshoppers--June 23, 2018

[From June 23, 2012 archive]

We like to compare ourselves to others,
though often we fall short in the comparison.

Physically, mentally, or spiritually we conclude
we are like grasshoppers compared to the competition.

Still, in the only comparison that matters
Paul argues that all are under the power of sin.

All are hard-hearted, yet your grace
has made us all acceptable.

Should we not sing praise
to you as long as we live?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98
Num. 13:31-14:25
Rom. 3:9-20
Matt. 19:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 104:33
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
          I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 

Num. 13:33b
"…and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to [the Nephilim]."  [the Israelites who went with Caleb to spy out the promised land]

Rom. 3:9
What then?  Are we any better off?  No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin…

Matt. 19:8
[Jesus] said to [those who came to test him], "It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.  …"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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