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.

To Have Life, Abundantly--March 20, 2013


 The shepherds cry, the lords of the flocks wail,
for thieves have entered the sheepfold;

but all day long you have held out your hands
to us, a disobedient and contrary people.

You came that we may have life, and have
it abundantly.  We will sing for joy
as we take refuge in you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5; 147:1-11; 27; 51
Jer. 25:30-38
Rom. 10:14-21
John 10:1-18

Selected Verses

Ps. 5:11a
 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
          let them ever sing for joy.

Jer. 25:36a
Hark! the cry of the shepherds,
          and the wail of the lords of the flock!

Rom. 10:21
But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

John 10:10
"…The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  …"  [Jesus to some Pharisees]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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