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 the Depths We Cry, Lord--Feb. 21, 2014


 Jesus, you did the works of your Father;
we know of the works that you did;
we believe in them and in you.

Yet at night we reflect on our day;
we wrestle with the knowledge--
we have not done what is right,
nor loved our sisters and brothers.
And out of the depths we cry to you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 130; 148; 32; 139
Gen. 32:22-33:17
1 John 3:1-10
John 10:31-42

Selected Verses

Ps. 130:1
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.

Gen. 32:24
Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

1 John 3:10
The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters.

John 10:37-38a
"…If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me.  But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works…"  [Jesus to those who were ready to stone him]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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