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.

Our Plans, or Your Plan--Sept. 12, 2021

From Sept. 15, 2013 archive]

 

O Holy One, if only we would listen 

to you and walk in your ways! 

 

Had we been in Elijah's shoes, 

we would have wanted to cling to 

our position, not anoint our successor. 

 

We make our schemes and plot our scenarios, 

but they are of human origin, and they fail. 

 

Grant us the humility to listen 

and to seek your plan.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113

1 Kings 19:8-21

Acts 5:34-42

John 11:45-47

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 81:13 

O that my people would listen to me, 
          that Israel would walk in my ways! 

 

1 Kings 19:16 

“…Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.  …”  [The LORD, to Elijah] 

 

Acts 5:38 

“…So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail…”  [Gamaliel, to the council] 

 

John 11:48 

“…If we let [Jesus] go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.  …”  [Caiaphas, to the council]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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