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.

Idols We Make and Trust--Nov. 8, 2021

[From Nov. 13, 2017 archive]

 

Gracious and merciful God,

you have warned us that, whenever

we worship idols instead of you,

we become more like the idol and less

like the human being you created 

us to be. 

 

Many are the idols we place our trust in:

wealth, fame, luxurious living;

traditions we observe for their own 

sake, not for human welfare; 

and glorification of ourselves rather 

than you. 

 

These idols, and others like them,

lead us to lives of torment 

and grief.  Do not forsake us, but

forgive us; help us worship 

only you, O God. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112

Neh. 9:1-25

Rev. 18:1-8

Matt. 15:1-20

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 135:18

Those who make [idols]
          and all who trust them 
          shall become like them.

 

Neh. 9:17b

“…But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and you did not forsake [our ancestors].  …”  [Ezra's prayer] 

 

Rev. 18:7

“…As [Babylon] glorified herself and lived luxuriously, 
          so give her a like measure of torment and grief.  …”  [A voice from heaven]
     

Matt. 15:6

“…So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.  …”  [Jesus, to those who asked why his disciples did not wash hands before eating]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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