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.

March 06, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 6, 119:73-80, 121
Genesis 37:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-19
Mark 1:1-13

II. Selections
Psalm 119:76
Let your steadfast love become my comfort
according to your promise to your servant.

Genesis 37:8
His brothers said to [ Joseph], "Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words.

1 Corinthians 1:4-5
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind ...

Mark 1:12
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

III. Meditation: Dominion over us?
Your steadfast love could be a comfort to us,
but we resist; because to accept your love
is to have you reign over us.
We want no one to have dominion over us,
and we reject your claim and promise.

Then we find ourselves driven out into the wilderness,
and there we find the grace that you have given us in Christ Jesus,
in every way to be enriched in him,
in speech and knowledge of every kind.
We give you thanks.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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