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 21, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 22, 105, 130
Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-33
1 Peter 1:10-20
John 13:36-38

II. Selections
Psalm 105:17
...[ The LORD God] had sent a man ahead of [ Israel],
Joseph, who was sold as a slave ...

Lamentations 3:17
...my soul is bereft of peace;
I have forgotten what happiness is ...

1 Peter 1:18-19
You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.

John 13:37
Peter said to [ Jesus], "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."

III. Meditation: What happiness is

When we think of how you died, like a lamb without defect or blemish,
our soul is bereft of peace; and we forget what happiness is.

As Joseph was sent ahead of Israel to suffer and to save,
God sent you to save us from our futile ways

It makes us want to follow you, Lord,
even if it means our lives.

And then we find
happiness.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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