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 10, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 22, 105, 130
Genesis 40:1-23
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Mark 2:13-22

II. Selections
Psalm 22:6
But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.

Genesis 40:15
" ...For in fact I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon." [ Joseph to the chief cupbearer]

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

Mark 2:17
When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners."

III. Meditation: A worm, or God's temple?
You value us
more than others value us,
more than we value ourselves.
Though we call ourselves worms, sub-human;
though others scorn and despise us,
even cast us into dungeons;
you call us your temple,
and say your Spirit dwells in us.
O Great Physician,
heal our sickness.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)