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.

Strength to Suffer--Apr. 7, 2011


Abba, Father, by your Spirit, bear witness with our spirit:
we are children and heirs—joint heirs with Christ.
Give us strength to suffer with him.

We eat the bread that Christ has given for the life of the world;
having eaten, may we do justice and righteousness,
defending the poor and the needy.

You are the stronghold of our lives; of whom shall we be afraid?
We did not receive a spirit of slavery
to fall back into fear.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 27; 147:12-20; 126; 102
Jer. 22:13-23
Rom. 8:12-27
John 6:41-51

Selected Verses
Ps. 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
      whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
      of whom shall I be afraid?

Jer. 22:15b-16a
Did not your father eat and drink
      and do justice and righteousness?
      Then it was well with him.
He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
      then it was well.

Rom. 8:15-17
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 6:51
“…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” [Jesus to those who were complaining about him]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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