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 01, 2010

Call and Response

I. Readings
Psalms 119:73-80, 145, 121, 6
Genesis 41:46-57
1 Corinthians 4:8-21
Mark 3:7-19a

II. Selections
Psalm 6:3
My soul also is struck with terror,
while you, O LORD—how long?

Genesis 41:51
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.”

1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

Mark 3:13
[Jesus] went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him.

III. Meditation

When our souls are struck with terror we call to you;
then we wonder why it takes you so long to answer.

Jesus called to the twelve, and they all answered him.
You called and blessed Joseph; he forgot his hardships.

As for us, we talk of responding to your call—
but your kingdom depends on power, not talk.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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