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 Measure We Give--July 20, 2021

[From July 24, 2007 archive]

 

You have not left yourself without a witness in doing good—

you give us rains from heaven and fruitful seasons;

you fill us with food and our hearts with joy;

you execute justice for the oppressed

and give food to the hungry.

 

But we do not pay attention—

like Nabal, we claim for ourselves 

all you have given us; and we will not share.

“Shall we give what we own to those we do not know?” 

Yet the measure we give will be the measure we get, with more.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 123; 146; 30; 86

1 Sam. 25:1-22

Acts 14:1-18

Mark 4:21-34

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 146:7

…who executes justice for the oppressed;

            who gives food to the hungry.

 

1 Sam. 25:11

“…Shall I take my bread and my water and the meat that I have butchered for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know where?”  [Nabal, to David’s young men]

 

Acts 14:17

…yet [God] has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.”  [Paul and Barnabas to the crowd in Lystra]

 

Mark 4:24

And [Jesus] said to [his disciples], “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.  …  ”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

6 comments:

  1. Mea SententiaJuly 20, 2021 at 6:42 PM

    When Paul shifts from a Jewish to a Gentile audience, he shifts focus from the witness of scripture to the witness of nature. Noted this today in the Acts reading.

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  2. Elmer E. EwingJuly 21, 2021 at 12:22 AM

    Yes, at least as reported in Acts, Paul is very ready to adapt to his audience.

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  3. Mea SententiaJuly 21, 2021 at 7:34 PM

    Actually, I wasn't thinking of Paul. Just noting the double witness of nature and scripture in Luke's theology, mirroring Psalm 19. Nature and scripture is my theology too. Natura et scriptura.

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  4. Elmer E. EwingJuly 22, 2021 at 12:13 AM

    I appreciate your making me think about this. I will attempt to summarize my rambling reactions. For me, also, scripture and nature are important. Scripture, as I find divine love and grace in it; and nature, but not only for the beauty of nature to my senses, but for the wonder of creation—the mysteries of infinite time and infinite space; the big bang, black holes, and physical wonders down to sub-atomic particles; the beginning of life and evolution; and the capacity and limits of human minds. So yes, scripture and nature, but perhaps more important to my theology is confidence in the loving presence of the Divine, with us to lead us into lives of gratitude and praise, compassion and service, and joyful trust in our Creator.

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  5. Mea SententiaJuly 22, 2021 at 5:52 PM

    What a beautiful statement. Thank you. I think to have 'confidence in the loving presence of the Divine,' it is necessary to step through the door of faith and to keep it propped open.

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  6. Elmer E. EwingJuly 22, 2021 at 8:09 PM

    Bravo! With this comment you have managed to blend together your entry on your blog for the day with my entry on mine☺︎.

    ReplyDelete

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