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.


Our Hopes are Set on You--Feb. 12, 2012



Our hopes are set on you, the living God,
our strength in toil and struggle.

You look upon our afflictions; and you comfort us,
though not always as we would choose.

You raise the poor from the dust, lift the needy from the ashes.
And we must do our part--can we who are wealthy expect
to enter your kingdom when so many are poor?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113
Gen. 29:20-35
1 Tim. 3:14-4:10
Mark 10:23-31

Selected Verses
Ps. 113:3
He raises the poor from the dust,
      and lifts the needy from the ash heap…

Gen. 29:32
Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, "Because the LORD has looked on my affliction; surely now my husband will love me."

1 Tim. 4:10
For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Mark 10:23
Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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