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.

Jesus, in the Day of Distress--March 4, 2014

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Lord Jesus, in the day of your distress
Pilate found no case against you;
yet he gave you over to die.

In the day of my distress
do not hide your face from me.
I am weary, Lord; how can I prevail?

Grant that I may be more like Paul--
willing to suffer the loss of all
in order to be found in you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133
Prov. 30:1-4, 24-33
Phil. 3:1-11
John 18:28-38

Selected Verses
 Ps. 102:2a
 Do not hide your face from me
          in the day of my distress.

Prov. 30:1b
Thus says the man: I am weary, O God,
            I am weary, O God. How can I prevail?

Phil. 3:8b-9a
For [Christ's] sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him…

John 18:38
Pilate asked [Jesus], "What is truth?"  After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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