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.

Of Power and Weakness--March 5, 2011


We want you to be powerful in us, O God;
we want to be filled with your glorious power,
so we can do many deeds of power in your name.

If only we could send a Moses to hear you,
you could tell him how we could be powerful.
We would pay attention to him and do all you say.

Yet we already have one greater than Moses.
We do not want to listen to him, who in weakness
was crucified; but in his power may we live in weakness.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 63; 149; 125; 90
Deut. 5:22-33
2 Cor. 13:1-14
Matt. 7:22-29

Selected Verses
Ps. 90:16
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
      and your glorious power to their children.

Deut. 5:27
“…Go near, you yourself, and hear all that the LORD our God will say. Then tell us everything that the LORD our God tells you, and we will listen and do it.” [The people of Israel to Moses]

2 Cor. 13:4a
For [Christ] was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God.

Matt. 7:22-23
“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ …” [Jesus to the crowds]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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