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.

February 08, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 62, 97
Isaiah 60:1-22
2 Timothy 2:14-26
Mark 10:17-31

II. Selections
Psalm 97:12
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name.

Isaiah 60:22b
I am the LORD;
in its time I will accomplish it quickly.

2 Timothy 2:24
And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient ...

Mark 10:17
As [ Jesus] was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

III. Meditation: What we must do

We rejoice in you, we give thanks to your holy name.
When the time comes, you accomplish quickly
whatever you decide to do. And you know
what we must do.

We know it too, for you have told us. Yet we
find difficult even what should come easy-
avoiding quarrels, being kind and patient,
and staying centered on our task.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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