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 11, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 6, 119:73-80, 121, 145
Genesis 37:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-19
Mark 1:1-13

II. Selections
Psalm 145:3
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.

Genesis 37:4
But when [ Joseph's] brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.

1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

Mark 1:11
And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

III. Meditation: United in mind and purpose

You are great, and greatly to be praised;
and your greatness is unsearchable.

We are small, and there are divisions among us,
and we are jealous of and hate one another.

You sent your Son, the Beloved, who pleased you;
he came to unite us in one mind and purpose.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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