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 08, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 31, 43, 143
Exodus 2:23-3:15
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Mark 9:14-29

II. Selections
Psalm 143:4
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.

Exodus 2:23
After a long time the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God.

1 Corinthians 13:7
[ Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Mark 9:21
Jesus asked the father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood."

III. Meditation: How long?

Our spirit faints within us;
our heart within us is appalled.
Our cry groans under our slavery,
and our cry for help rises up to you:
How long has our loved one suffered?
How much longer must the suffering last?

If love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things,
then fill us with your love,
that we may bear
and believe;
hope and
endure.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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