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 29, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 22, 105, 130
Genesis 47:1-26
1 Corinthians 9:16-27
Mark 6:47-56

II. Selections
Psalm 130:4
But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.

Genesis 47:19
" ...Shall we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food. We with our land will become slaves to Pharaoh; just give us seed, so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate." [ The Egyptians to Joseph]

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 6:50
...for [ the disciples] all saw [ Jesus walking on the sea] and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

III. Meditation: Slaves to fear

The Egyptians were afraid of dying,
and they became slaves to Pharaoh;
the disciples were terrified of Jesus
as he walked by them on the waves.
Paul was not afraid to become a slave
so that he might win more to Christ.
We have no reason to fear you, only
to revere you; with you is forgiveness.

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