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.

My Disbelief--July 19, 2020


God of all mercy and compassion,
throughout history, leaders have decided
it was your will, totally to destroy
a country or a city.

You brought your people up out of slavery,
you cared for and nourished them.

You sent Jesus, who healed the sick,
forgives our sins, and gives us
resurrection hope.

I cannot believe you would order an attack
on a peaceful city, killing all citizens,
young and old, and their animals,
burning it to the ground.

Forgive my disbelief.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113
Josh. 6:15-27
Acts 22:30-23:11
Mark 2:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 81:9-10
“…I am the LORD your God,
          who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
          Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.  …”

Josh. 6:16-17
And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout!  For the LORD has given you the city.  The city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction.  …”

Acts 23:6
When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.  I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”,  

Mark 2:9
“…Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’?  …”  [Jesus, to scribes who in their hearts questioned his authority to forgive]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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