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.

One Rock, One Quarry--Feb. 2, 2013


 Forgive us, we fail to understand--
you have made us, all of us,
and we are yours.

We categorize and separate into
race, life style, gender;
you lump together.

You have hewn us from one rock,
we are dug from one quarry,
in Christ we all are one.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
Isa. 51:1-8
Gal. 3:23-29
Mark 7:1-23

Selected Verses

Ps. 100:3
Know that the LORD is God.
          It is he that made us, and we are his;
          we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Isa. 51:1b
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
          and to the quarry from which you were dug.

Gal. 3:28-29
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.  And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Mark 7:18a
[Jesus] said to [his disciples], “Then do you also fail to understand?  …"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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