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 01, 2008

Psalms 31, 43, 143
Genesis 47:27-48:7
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Mark 7:1-23

II. Selections
Psalm 43:4
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.

Genesis 48:7
For when I came from Paddan, Rachael, alas, died in the land of Canaan on the way, while there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

1 Corinthians 10:13
No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Mark 7:8
" ...You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition." [ Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees]

III. Meditation: Our God, in exceeding joy and greatest sadness

There are times when we come to you with exceeding joy;
as well as times when we approach you with greatest sadness.
Too often we abandon your commandment, and do not come at all.

We excuse ourselves-say you have given us more than we can bear;
yet you will not let us be tested beyond our strength, but with the
testing will also provide the way out, so that we can endure it.

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