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 05, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 27, 51
Genesis 50:15-26
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Mark 8:11-26

II. Selections
Psalm 27:10
If my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will take me up.

Genesis 50:24
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."

1 Corinthians 12:7
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Mark 8:13
And [ Jesus] left [ the Pharisees who had asked for a sign], and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.

III. Meditation: Do not leave us on the other side of the lake

Forgive our lack of faith if we demand a sign of your presence-
give us each a manifestation of your Spirit for the common good.
Surely you will come to us, to bring us up out of the land of Egypt;
even though our parents die and leave us behind, you will take us up.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)