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.

February 16, 2010

When I Am Weary

I. Readings
Psalms 42, 146, 102, 133
Proverbs 30:1-4, 24-33
Philippians 3:1-11
John 18:28-38

II. Selections
Psalm 42:6b-c
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.

Proverbs 30:1b-c
Thus says the man: I am weary, O God,
I am weary, O God. How can I prevail?

Philippians 3:1a
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.

John 18:35
Pilate replied [to Jesus], “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”

III. Meditation

My soul is cast down within me; I am weary, O God.
Nothing I tried today worked out. I could not prevail.

But suddenly I realize I have been acting as if you are a
stranger to me, as if I do not know what you have done.

Have I forgotten, in my desert place, the mountains
and cool waters where I have found you in the past?

Teach me to remember my experience of you there;
and teach me to rejoice in you, even in the desert.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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