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 08, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 102, 126, 147:12-20
Jeremiah 4:9-10, 19-28
Romans 2:12-24
John 5:19-29

II. Selections
Psalm 147:15
[ The LORD] sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.

Jeremiah 4:22
"For my people are foolish,
they do not know me;
they are stupid children,
they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil,
but do not know how to do good." [ The LORD]

Romans 2:21
...you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

John 5:20
The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.

III. Meditation: Your works astonish us

Your works astonish us, we foolish ones who do not know you.
You send out your commands, and your word runs swiftly;
like stupid children who lack understanding, we fail to listen;
for we are skilled in doing evil-how to do good puzzles us.
We try to teach others about you; we should teach ourselves.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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