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.

Pretending Who We Are Not--July 16, 2021

[From July17, 2009 archive]

 

John the Baptist did not pretend to be more than he was.

He said he was nothing compared to the One to come next.


When fleeing from King Saul, David pretended to the priest

that he was serving the King.  He wanted favors from him.

 

The priest obliged, but later was put to death by the King.

Our pretending can be costly, to ourselves and to others.

 

Cleanse us from all pretense of being who we are not.

You know who we are; that is who you call us to be.

 

Lectionary Reading

Ps. 51;148; 142; 65

1 Sam. 21:1-15

Acts 13:13-25

Mark 3:7-19a

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 51:2

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

          cleanse me from my sin.

 

1 Samuel 21:2

David said to the priest Ahimelech, “The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, ‘No one must know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’  I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place.  …”

 

Acts 13:25

“…And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am?  I am not he.  No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.’ ”  [Paul, preaching in the synagogue at Antioch]

 

Mark 3:13

[Jesus] went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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