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.


Sacrifice, Belief, or Labor?--April 13, 2012



How shall we praise you?
By sacrificing our firstborn?
By believing the unbelievable?
Or by remaining steadfast and
immoveable, excelling in
our work for you?

None alone seems adequate--
not sacrifice, not belief,
not untiring labor.
Yet if truly we praise you,
will not what matters follow?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 148; 49; 138
Exod. 13:1-2, 11-16
1 Cor. 15:51-58
Luke 24:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 148:1
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
      praise him in the heights!

Exod. 13:15b
"'…Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD every male that first opens the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.' …" [Moses telling the people how to answer their children]

1 Cor. 15:58
Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Luke 24:11
But these words [from the women who had seen the empty tomb] seemed to [the apostles] an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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