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 04, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 25, 34, 91
Genesis 49:29-50:14
1 Corinthians 11:2-34
Mark 8:1-10

II. Selections
Psalm 25:1
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

Genesis 49:33
When Jacob ended is charge to his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.

1 Corinthians 11:24
...and when [ Jesus] had given thanks, he broke [ the loaf of bread] and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

Mark 8:2
"I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: At the end of their lives

At the end of their lives:
Jacob charged his sons to take care of his body;
Jesus symbolically broke his body for his disciples.
Jesus showed compassion for others, as was his custom.
Like Jesus, whether we live or die, help us lift our soul to you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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