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.

Treasure in Clay Jars--March 18, 2016

[From March 30, 2012 archive]

O God of extraordinary power, keep us mindful:
dominion belongs to you, and the treasure
we receive from you is in clay jars.

When we exalt ourselves over you
and over others, when we approach you
with our demands, remind us, we are only clay.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 22; 148; 105; 130
Exod. 9:13-35
2 Cor. 4:1-12
Mark 10:32-45

Selected Verses
Ps. 22:28
For dominion belongs to the LORD,
          and he rules over the nations.

Exod. 9:17
"'…You are still exalting yourself against my people, and will not let them go. …'" [The LORD speaking to Pharaoh, through Moses]

2 Cor. 4:7
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

Mark 10:35
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to [Jesus] and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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