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 11, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 25, 34, 91, 146
Exodus 5:1-6:1
1 Corinthians 14:20-33a, 39-40
Mark 9:42-50

II. Selections
Psalms 146:5a, 7
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob ...
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.

Exodus 5:23
" ...Since I first came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has mistreated this people, and you have done nothing at all to deliver your people." [ Moses to the LORD]

1 Corinthians 14:32-33a
And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, for God is a God not of disorder but of peace.

Mark 9:50a
" ...Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." [ Jesus to his twelve disciples]

III. Meditation: Prophets with salty spirits, but peaceful

You execute justice for the oppressed; you give food to the hungry;
will you not deliver your people from rulers who mistreat them?
Are you leaving that task to us? If so, how can we be at peace? ;

You are not a God of disorder, but of peace; teach us control
over our prophetic spirits; yet do give us salt in ourselves
to bring justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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