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.

To Learn from Bartimaeus--Feb. 11, 2017


Jesus called blind Bartimaeus,
who threw off his cloak,
sprang to his feet,
and came to
Jesus.

Sometimes,
we must confess,
it seems a burden to
proclaim the message,
persistently in good times
or in bad; to convince,
rebuke, encourage,
with patience.

Blind Bartimaeus
had the utmost patience,
and, when it was rewarded,
with his whole being he
rejoiced and exulted.
Pray, help us to
learn from
him.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98
Isa. 61:10-62:5
2 Timothy 4:1-8
Mark 10:46-52

Selected Verses
Ps. 149:2
Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
          let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. 

Isa. 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
          my whole being shall exult in my God…

2 Timothy 4:2
…proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.

Mark 10:49-50
Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.”  So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.

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