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.

Peace, in a World in Bondage to War--March 15, 2016


God of peace, teach us to depart from evil
and do good, to be at peace and pursue it.

We live in a world of perpetual war;
on multiple fronts our soldiers fight;
from the skies our drones deal death.

Deliver your people--no, deliver the world--
from bondage to war; show us all how
to be at peace with one another.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 34; 146; 25; 91
Exod. 5:1-6:1
1 Cor. 14:20-33a, 39-40
Mark 9:42-50

Selected Verses
Ps. 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good;
          seek peace, and pursue it.

Exod. 5:23
"…Since I first came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has mistreated this people, and you have done nothing at all to deliver your people."  [Moses to the LORD]

1 Cor. 14:33
…for God is a God not of disorder but of peace.

Mark 9:50b
"…Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."  [Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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