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.

Of the Spirit, or of the Flesh?--Feb. 3, 2017


O Lord of Hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you
and seeks fruits of the Spirit: love, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness,
 self-control.

Why, then, should we spend our work and wealth
on things of the flesh, that do not satisfy--
even on hateful things that made
the Son of Man suffer
contempt and
death?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40
Isa. 55:1-13
Gal. 5:16-24
Mark 9:2-13

Selected Verses
Ps. 84:12
O LORD of hosts,
          happy is everyone who trusts in you.

Isa. 55:2a
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
          and your labor for that which does not satisfy? 

Gal. 5:22-23a
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Mark 9:12b
"…How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt?  …"  [Jesus to Peter, James, and John]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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