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.


Mortals Disappoint; You Do Not--Oct. 15, 2011



It is better to take refuge in you, O God,
than to put confidence in mortals.

In the plains of Jericho, Zedekiah's army
was scattered and deserted him.

And we have gone to the wilderness
and failed to see the sacred.

But God, do not let our proclamation
that Christ has risen be in vain.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 56; 149; 118; 111
Jer. 52:1-34
1 Cor. 15:12-29
Matt. 11:7-15

Selected Verses
Ps. 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
      than to put confidence in mortals.

Jer. 52:8
But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered, deserting him.

1 Cor. 15:14
…and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.

Matt. 11:7
As they went away, 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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