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 28, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 27, 51
Jeremiah 25:30-38
Romans 10:14-21
John 10:1-18

II. Selections
Psalm 5:1
Give ear to my words, O LORD;
give heed to my sighing.

Jeremiah 25:34
Wail, you shepherds, and cry out;
roll in ashes, you lords of the flock,
for the days of your slaughter have come-and your dispersions,
and you shall fall like a choice vessel.

Romans 10:21
But of Israel [ Isaiah] says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."

John 10:11
" ...I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ... "

III. Meditation: Give heed to our sighing.

Give ear to our words; give heed to our sighing,
How long will you hold out your hands to
a disobedient and contrary people? ;

What will happen to the shepherds;
how will the lords of the flock cry out
when they begin to fall like a choice vessel?

We pray to you, the Good Shepherd,
who laid down your life for the flock:
give ear to our words and our sighing.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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