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 10, 2010

Roundabout Ways

I. Readings
Psalms 92, 149, 23, 114
Exodus 13:17-14:4
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10
Mark 12:18-27

II. Selections
Psalm 92:4
For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Exodus 13:18a
So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.

2 Corinthians 4:16
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

Mark 12:24
Jesus said to [the Sadducees], “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? … ”

III. Meditation

Dear God, at times you do seem to lead us in roundabout ways!
No matter—you lead us, and that is important, and we rejoice.

Your work makes us glad; at the works of your hand we sing for joy.
We thank you for inner renewal, even if our external form is wasting away.

Help us to know you through scripture and to know your power.
Then may we trust you to lead us, no matter how roundabout the way.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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