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.

Far Away from the Haughty--May 24, 2019


O sovereign God,
in spite of your greatness,
your regard is for the lowly.

Even a religious leader fell at the feet
of Jesus, to beg for his daughter's life-- 
Jairus knew he could not be haughty.

Who are we to pass judgment
on one another?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 148; 49; 138
Deut. 31:30-32:14
Rom. 14:13-23
Luke 8:40-56

Selected Verses
Ps. 138:6
 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly;
          but the haughty he perceives from far away.

Deut. 32:3
For I will proclaim the name of the LORD;
          ascribe greatness to our God!
[Moses, to Israel]

Rom. 14:13
Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.

Luke 8:41-42
Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue.  He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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