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.

In the Land of Misfortunes, Fruitful--March 17, 2014


[from Feb. 18, 2008 archive]

You called your apostles to be with you,
to be sent out to proclaim your message.
They were hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed,
beaten and homeless; they grew weary
from the work of their hands.

But, according to your promise,
your steadfast love became their comfort.
In the land of their misfortunes,
you made them fruitful.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 119:73-80; 145; 121; 6
Gen. 41:46-57
1 Cor. 4:8-21
Mark 3:7-19a

Selected Verses
Psalm 119:76
Let your steadfast love become my comfort
            according to your promise to your servant.

Genesis 41:52
The second [son] [Joseph] named Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortunes.”

1 Corinthians 4:11-12a
To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our hands.

Mark 3:14
And [Jesus] appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message…

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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