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.

Different Ways of Welcoming--Aug. 11, 2021

[From Aug. 14, 2019 archive]

 

We welcome you, O Holy Jesus;

our hearts are glad in you.

 

There are different kinds of welcomes—

warm ones, reluctant ones, 

and warm welcomes with conditions

that we do not welcome.

 

I, for one, cannot blame the rich man 

for feeling disappointment 

over your welcome to him, Lord. 

(It is hard to swap riches 

on earth for treasure in heaven.)

 

Yet, I will trust and hope in you,

and I will follow in your steadfast love.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 89:1-18; 147:1-11; 1; 33

2 Sam. 14:21-33

Acts 21:15-26

Mark 10:17-31

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 33:21-22

Our heart is glad in him, 
          because we trust in his holy name. 
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, 
          even as we hope in you.

 

2 Sam. 14:24, 33

The king said, “Let [my son Absolam] go to his own house; he is not to come into my presence.” So Absalom went to his own house, and did not come into the king’s presence.  …Then Joab went to the king and told him; and he summoned Absalom.  So he came to the king and prostrated himself with his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.

 

Acts 21:17

When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly.

 

Mark 10:21

Jesus, looking at [the man who knelt before him], loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”



Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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