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 28, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 102, 126
Genesis 46:1-7, 28-34
1 Corinthians 9:1-15
Mark 6:30-46

II. Selections
Psalm 27:4
One thing I asked of the LORD,
that I will seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.

Genesis 46: 4
" ...I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph's own hand shall close your eyes." [ God to Jacob]

1 Corinthians 9:1
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

Mark 6:31
[ Jesus] said to [ his disciples], "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.


III. Meditation: Are we not free?

When many around us are coming and going,
and we feel no time for leisure, even to eat,
take us away to rest in a deserted place.

One thing more we ask of you, and seek:
to live with you all the days of our life,
to behold your beauty, inquire of you.

Then when we must go down to Egypt,
go with us, and bring us back again;
when our work in you is finished
and we are free, close our eyes.

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