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.


Mortal, Can You See?--Jan. 29, 2012



God examines us:
Can you see anything, mortal?

I am leading you by the Spirit;
are you living by the Spirit?

I make you lie down in green pastures--
take time to enjoy the still waters.

I want to restore your soul, but it is
too full of passions and desires.

Are you still bargaining with me?
Do you not see anything?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 108; 150; 66; 23
Gen. 18:16-33
Gal. 5:13-25
Mark 8:22-30

Selected Verses
Ps. 23:1-3a
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
      He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
      he restores my soul.

Gen. 18:23
Then Abraham came near [the LORD] and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? …"

Gal. 5:24-25
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Mark 8:23
[Jesus] took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Can you see anything?"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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