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 25, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 32, 42, 84
Jeremiah 23:16-32
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Mark 8:31-9:1

II. Selections
Psalm 32:9
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.

Jeremiah 23:29
Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

1 Corinthians 9:19
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.

Mark 8:34
[ Jesus] called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ... "

III. Meditation: Hard gospel

We are like a horse, a mule,
without understanding,
whose temper must be
curbed with bit and bridle
to make it stay near.

Your word is like fire,
like a hammer that
breaks rocks in pieces.

You call us-deny self,
take up our cross, and
follow you; we are free
in you, but you call us
to become slaves to all.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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