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.


Only a Shaking Reed?--May 21, 2011


Surely I did not go out to the wilderness
to find only a reed shaken by the wind.

O Lord God, what did I expect there?
A Shepherd who would care for me?

Replenishment in my weariness,
restoration of my strength?

A call to be part of your people,
the peace of Christ in my heart?

Then indeed I must be thankful;
all these are to be found there.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 92; 149; 23; 114
Jer. 31:23-25
Col. 3:12-17
Luke 7:18-35

Selected Verses
Ps. 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Jer. 31:25
I will satisfy the weary,
      and all who are faint I will replenish.

Col. 3:15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

Luke 7:24
When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? …”
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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