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.

April 07, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 115, 124
Exodus 18:13-27
1 Peter 5:1-14
Matthew 3:1-6

II. Selections
Psalms 124:1
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side
-let Israel now say- ...

Exodus 18:18
" ...You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. ... " [ Moses' father-in-law to Moses]

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on [ God], because he cares for you.

Matthew 3:5-6
Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to [ John], and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

III. Meditation: Because you care for us

Moses carried a heavy burden,
and so did John the baptizer;
they could not do it alone.

If the LORD had not been
on their side, the task would
have been too much for them.

Like Moses and John, we must
learn to cast all our anxiety on
you, because you care for us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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