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 27, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 6, 119:73-80, 121
Genesis 49:1-28
1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1
Mark 7:24-37

II. Selections
Psalm 6:4
Turn, O LORD, save my life;
deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.

Genesis 49:22
Joseph is a fruitful bough,
a fruitful bough by a spring;
his branches run over the wall.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

Mark 7:28
But [ the Gentile woman] answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

III. Meditation: A prayer for one I love
Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.
I am less deserving than they are; but, like the Gentile woman who confronted Jesus,
I call to you for one I love.

Save his life, deliver him for the sake of your steadfast love.
Make him a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring;
let his branches run over the wall.

When he eats or drinks,
whatever he does,
may he do everything to your glory.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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