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.

What Pleases God--Sept. 22, 2020

 

Mighty King, lover of justice, equity, and righteousness,

forgive me when I become overwrought about trivia;

forgive me when I so worry over being slighted

that I fail to appreciate my many blessings.

 

Remind me what pleases you, O God—

the life of your Son, the Beloved,

filled with the Holy Spirit, 


who lived and died 

 and lives again

for us all.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99

Esth. 5:1-14

Acts 18:12-28

Luke 3:15-22

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 99:4

Mighty King, lover of justice,
          you have established equity;
you have executed justice
          and righteousness in Jacob.

 

Esth. 5:9

Haman went out that day happy and in good spirits.  But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and observed that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was infuriated with Mordecai…

 

Acts 18:15

“…but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.”  [Proconsul Gallio to the accusers of Paul]

 

Luke 3:22

…and the Holy Spirit descended upon [Jesus] in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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