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 19, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 25, 34, 91
Genesis 42:1-17
1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Mark 3:19b-35

II. Selections
Psalm 91:1-2
You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust."

Genesis 42:12
But [ Joseph] said to [ his brothers], "No, you have come to see the nakedness of the land!"

1 Corinthians 5:8
Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Mark 3:27
" ...But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. ..." [ Jesus to the scribes]

III. Meditation: Our shelter from the Strong Man

We cannot hide the nakedness of the land-
by ourselves we are helpless against the Strong Man.
Yet even in his presence, you have given us a festival to celebrate,
not with the old yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth. Our shelter from the Strong Man is trust in you, our refuge and fortress.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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