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.

All Who Languish Under War--March 21, 2011


Be gracious, O God, to those who languish under war,
to all whose bones are quaking while bombs are falling.
For us who relish war, or too lightly dismiss its horror,
remind us with your almond branch—you are watching.

Humble us—not alone by our own efforts or deserving
has America earned its position of power in the world;
nor have we a monopoly on spiritual gifts or wisdom.
Others have labored; we have entered into their labor.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 119:73-80; 145; 121; 6
Jer. 1:11-19
Rom. 1:1-15
John 4:27-42

Selected Verses
Ps. 6:2
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
      O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.

Jer. 1:11-12
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”

Rom. 1:11-12
For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

John 4:38
“…I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” [Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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