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.

In Contrast, John the Baptist--March 10, 2011


We are a people holy to the Lord,
God’s treasured possession.

Though we go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
we shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying our sheaves.

Yes, God knows us, and treasures us…
but from our actions, we do not know God.

John the Baptist, in contrast,
did not recognize Jesus,
yet acted as if he had.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 27; 147:12-20; 126; 102
Deut. 7:6-11
Titus 1:1-16
John 1:29-34

Selected Verses
Ps. 126:6
Those who go out weeping,
      bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
      carrying their sheaves.

Deut. 7:6
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Titus 1:16a
[The corrupt and unbelieving] profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions.

John 1:33
“…I myself did not know [Jesus], but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ …” [John the Baptist]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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