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.

Not by Selfishness from a Greedy Heart--Nov. 11, 2019


You are just in all your ways and kind in all your doings,
God, but when I delight myself in your great goodness,
may it not be by enjoying what was taken from others.

 Let not praise that comes out of my mouth be defiled
by selfishness that proceeds from a greedy heart.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112
Neh. 9:1-25
Rev. 18:1-8
Matt. 15:1-20

Selected Verses
Ps. 145:17
 The LORD is just in all his ways,
          and kind in all his doings.

Neh. 9:25
“…And [our ancestors] captured fortress cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses filled with all sorts of goods, hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they ate, and were filled and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.”  [from a prayer by Ezra]

Rev. 18:7
"…As [Babylon the great] glorified herself and lived luxuriously,
          so give her a like measure of torment and grief.  …"
[A voice from heaven]

Matt. 15:18
“…But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.  …”  [Jesus, to Peter and the other disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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