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 03, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 6, 119:73-80, 121
Genesis 49:1-28
1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1
Mark 7:24-37

II. Selections
Psalm 119:74
Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.

Genesis 49:1
Then Jacob called his sons, and said: "Gather around, that I may tell you what will happen to you in days to come. ... "

1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Mark 7:34
Then looking up to heaven, [ Jesus] sighed and said to [ the deaf man], "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."

III. Meditation: Only hope and rejoicing

Jacob was able to tell his sons what was going to happen
in days to come. We might wish to have the ability, too.

Jesus was able to open deaf ears and make people hear,
which would surely go nicely with predicting the future;

but ours is a pale imitation of Christ, miracles missing.
What we can do is to hope in your word-and rejoice.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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