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.

When God Seems Far Away--August 4, 2019



O God of Compassion and Justice,

When in our heart we cherish iniquity,
you seem far away; prayer is difficult.
Is that because you do not listen to us,
or because our hearts block you out?

I do not know, but if in my heart I despise
others, or am prejudiced against them,
or even just pass judgment on them,
then I feel very distant from you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 108; 150; 66; 23
2 Sam. 6:12-23
Rom. 14:7-12
John 1:43-51

Selected Verses
Ps. 66:18
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
          the Lord would not have listened. 

2 Sam. 6:16
As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

Rom. 14:10a-b
Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister?  Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister?

John 1:46
Nathanael said to [Philip], “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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