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.


"Protecting" the Simple--Feb. 2, 2012



In what way do you protect the simple, O Lord?
They have been tortured, killed, persecuted
in every way imaginable.

Is this protection? Still I know that the times
I have experienced your saving grace
most often have been after
I was brought low.

Your words are spirit and life
even when we bury our
dead in Machpelah.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 116; 147:12-20; 26; 130
Gen. 23:1-20
Heb. 11:32-12:2
John 6:60-71

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:6
The LORD protects the simple;
      when I was brought low, he saved me.

Gen. 23:19
After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

Heb. 11:37-38a
They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented--of whom the world was not worthy.

John 6:63
"…It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. …" [Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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