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.


Out of Abundance, Gifts--March 14, 2012



From the abundance of his kingdom Pharaoh promised
to give the best of his land to Joseph's family.

From King Herod's abundance he swore to reward his daughter
with whatever she wished, even half of the kingdom.

From the abundance of your steadfast love come greater gifts:
we receive all of our needs and our very existence.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 5; 147:1-11; 27; 51
Gen. 45:16-28
1 Cor. 8:1-13
Mark 6:13-29

Selected Verses
Ps. 5:7a
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
      will enter your house…

Gen. 45:17-18
Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.' …"

1 Cor. 8:6
…yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Mark 6:23
And [King Herod] solemnly swore to [his daughter Herodias], "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom."
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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