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 23, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 93, 117, 136
Exodus 12:1-14
Isaiah 51:9-11
Luke 24:13-35

II. Selections
Psalm 136:25
...who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Exodus 12:11
This is how you shall eat [ the lamb]: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord.

Isaiah 51:11
So the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Luke 24:15-16
While [ two followers of Jesus] were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

III. Meditation: Make us ready, staff in hand

In steadfast love, you feed all flesh;
but help us recognize your presence.

When you approach, make us ready-
loins girded, sandals on, staff in hand.

Your ransomed, we come back home,
songs of everlasting joy and gladness.

You make sighs and sorrow flee away
(but help us know when you are near).

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