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 27, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 68, 113
Exodus 13:3-10
1 Corinthians 15:41-50
Matthew 28:16-20

II. Selections
Psalm 113:7-8
He raises the poor from the dust,
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.

Exodus 13:8
" ...You shall tell your child on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' ... " [ Moses to the people]

1 Corinthians 15:49
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Matthew 28:20b
" ...And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." [ The risen Jesus to the eleven disciples]

III. Meditation: From the dust

You released us from slavery,
as we must teach our children.

You lift the poor from the dust,
the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes.

Just as we have borne the image
of the man of dust, we will also
bear that of the man of heaven.

And you promise to be with us
always, to the end of the age.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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