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.

From my Fears Deliver Me, O God--March 18, 2014


 I hold members of my family too close to me,
for I fear that harm might come to them--
dear God, deliver me from my fears.

If I must fear, let it be not only for
my biological family, but for all
whom you call your children.

And let me not forget--
our paschal lamb,
your Son, was
sacrificed.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 34; 146; 25; 91
Gen. 42:1-17
1 Cor. 5:1-8
Mark 3:19b-35

Selected Verses
Ps. 34:4
I sought the LORD, and he answered me,
          and delivered me from all my fears.

Gen. 42:4
But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he feared that harm might come to him.

1 Cor. 5:7b
For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.

Mark 3:35
"…Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."  [Jesus to the crowd, when told his mother, brothers, and sisters wanted to see him]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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