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.

What Defiles--March 17, 2012



What defiles comes from the heart.
Therefore lead us and guide us,
for what comes from us in
your absence is not good.

Of our own resources we lack the
strength to endure your testing;
the strength, like the leading,
must come from your grace.

Bless us, dear God, as Jacob
blessed his grandsons, that
we may be your children
and also your servants.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 43; 149; 31; 143
Gen. 47:27-48:7
1 Cor. 10:1-13
Mark 7:1-23

Selected Verses
Ps. 31:3
You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
      for your name’s sake lead me and guide me…

Gen. 48:5
Therefore your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are now mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are.

1 Cor. 10:13b
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Mark 7:20
And [Jesus] said, "It is what comes out of a person that defiles. …”
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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