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 24, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 22, 105, 130, 148
Genesis 47:1-26
1 Corinthians 9:16-27
Mark 6:47-56

II. Selections
Psalm 105:4
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually.

Genesis 47:19a
Shall we die before your eyes, both we and our land?

1 Corinthians 9:19
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.

Mark 6:47
When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and [ Jesus] was alone on the land.

III. Meditation: Free or slave?
To save themselves from famine,
the Egyptians were willing
to submit their entire existence to Pharaoh.

Paul was free,
but made himself
a slave to all.

Shall not we submit to you,
continually seeking you
and your strength and your presence?

The problem is,
we find ourselves
far separated from you.

Come to us as Jesus came to his disciples
when they were far from him,
out to sea in a boat.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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