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 02, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 22, 105, 130
Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Hebrews 4:11-16
John 3:22-36

II. Selections
Psalm 105:42
So [ the LORD] brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.

Deuteronomy 10:18
...who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

John 3:29 " ...He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." [ John the Baptist to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Reason for joy

Things we can rejoice over:
that you brought us out of Egypt;
that with boldness we may approach you
to ask you for mercy and grace in time of need;
that you execute justice for the orphan and widow, and
love the stranger, providing them food and clothing.
All good, but the bridegroom's friend rejoiced
to stand and hear the bridegroom's voice,
although it meant his own decline.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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