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.

Free to Stand Firm--Apr. 3, 2011


Do you forsake us, God?
Is it we who forsake you?

Do we not yet understand?
Do we want to understand?

You are in the midst of us;
we are called by your name.

You have covered our sin,
forgiven our transgression.

Lord, you have set us free;
we are free to stand firm

and to not submit again
to the yoke of slavery.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 150; 42; 32
Jer. 14:1-22
Gal. 4:21-5:1
Mark 8:11-21

Selected Verses
Ps. 32:1
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
      whose sin is covered.

Jer. 14:9b
Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us,
      and we are called by your name;
      do not forsake us!

Gal. 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Mark 8:21
Then [Jesus] said to [his disciples], “Do you not yet understand?”
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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