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 31, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 115, 124
Exodus 14:21-31
Peter 1:1-12
John 14:1-17

II. Selections
Psalm 124:1, 5
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side
-let Israel now say-
...then over us would have gone
the raging waters.

Exodus 14:29
But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ...

John 14:16
" ...And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. ... " [ Jesus to the eleven]

III. Meditation: By our side

With you by their side,
the Israelites who fled from Pharaoh
walked on dry ground through the sea;
the raging waters did not go over them.

We bless your name:
by your mercy you have given us a new birth
into a living hope through Christ's resurrection,
have given us an Advocate to be with us forever.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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