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.


Together, One Body--Oct. 7, 2011

When we are exiled from home,
or our bones have been crushed,
any chance to rejoice is a blessing.

The blind you gave sight
could not constrain joy;
fill us with like joy for our blessings.

Sisters and brothers in Christ
share our suffering and joy
over any relief from our suffering.

Make us ready to share
in their suffering and joy
and bond us together, one body.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65
2 Kings 23:36-24:17
1 Cor. 12:12-26
Matt. 9:27-34

Selected Verses
Ps. 51:8
Let me hear joy and gladness;
      let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

2 Kings 24:14
[The king of Babylon] carried away all Jerusalem, all the officials, all the warriors, ten thousand captives, all the artisans and the smiths; no one remained, except the poorest people of the land.

1 Cor. 12:26
If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

Matt. 9:30-31
And [the eyes of the two blind men] were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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