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.

The Gifts or the Giver?--Nov. 17, 2019


Our God, in many ways you have blessed us;
the earth has yielded its increase, and we have
received wealth to spend according to your will.

More valuable than riches is your gift of  friends.
Give us one thing more—wisdom and courage
to worship not the gifts, but you, the Giver.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 67; 150; 46; 93
Ezra 7:1-26
Acts 28:14b-23
Luke 16:1-13

Selected Verses
Ps. 67:6
The earth has yielded its increase;
          God, our God, has blessed us.

Ezra 7:18
“…Whatever seems good to you and your colleagues to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God.  …”  [From a letter by the king of Persia to Ezra

Acts 28:15
The believers from [Rome], when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us.  On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

Luke 16:13
“No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth.”  [Jesus, to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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