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.

To Whom Are We Loyal?--July 29, 2019


[From July 25, 2011 archive]

There are different levels of loyalty:
loyalty to a dead leader,
loyalty to a cause or principle,
loyalty to a fellow worker,
loyalty to one's word,
loyalty to one's reputation.

Above all these is loyalty to you, O God.
Let us hear what you will speak;
in our hearts, let us turn to you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47
2 Sam. 2:1-11
Acts 15:36-16:5
Mark 6:14-29

Selected Verses
Ps. 85:8
Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
          for he will speak peace to his people,
          to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

2 Sam. 2:4b-5
When they told David, “It was the people of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,” David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “May you be blessed by the LORD, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord, and buried him!  …”

Acts 15:38
But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

Mark 6:25-26
Immediately [Herodias] rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

1 comment:

  1. Mea SententiaJuly 29, 2019 at 10:37 PM

    Responsible for John the Baptist's death: Herod, who gave the execution order; his courtiers, whose presence ensured a foolish promise must be kept; Herodias, Herod's wife, who finally got her revenge; her daughter, who danced and then did her mother's bidding; the executioner, who carried out the sentence; and perhaps John himself, whose words brought about his own demise.

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