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 11, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 31, 43, 143
Genesis 41:1-13
1 Corinthians 4:1-7
Mark 2:23-3:6

II. Selections
Psalm 43:5a
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.

Genesis 41:7
The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream.

1 Corinthians 4:1-7
Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries.

Mark 2:25
And [ Jesus] said to [ the Pharisees], "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? ..."

III. Meditation: David, Jesus, Pharaoh
King David fended for his companions,
And Jesus for his, Sabbath or no.
Make us servants of Christ
and stewards of your mysteries.

Your mysteries are many;
we cannot comprehend them,
any more than Pharaoh
could understand his dreams.

But though the thin ears swallow up
the seven plump and full ears,
we will hope in you, and shall again praise you,
our help and our God.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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