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.

April 18, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 66, 98, 116
Exodus 12:28-39
1 Corinthians 15:12-28
Mark 16:9-20

II. Selections
Psalm 98:8-9a
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming
to judge the earth.

Exodus 12:39
[ The Israelites] baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt; it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

1 Corinthians 15:20
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.

Mark 16:10-11
[ Mary Magdalene] went out and told those who had been with [ Jesus], while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

III. Meditation: Ready or not
In anticipation of your coming,
the floods clap their hands,
the hills sing for joy;
but we are never quite prepared.

In the hour of their leaving
the Israelites had no time
for leavened bread
or other preparations.

The rest of his friends sat weeping
while Mary Magdalene spoke of his presence.
They were not prepared to hear
that Christ was raised from death.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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