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.

How often, O God, Before I Am Ready?--April 7, 2014


Faithful God, how often must you humble me,
and how often send me into the wilderness,
how often frustrate my desire to be first,
or my eagerness for spiritual gifts--
how often, O God, before I am fit
to be your servant, and to help
you build up your church?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 119:73-80; 145; 121; 6
Exod. 4:10-31
1 Cor. 14:1-19
Mark 9:30-41

Selected Verses
Ps. 119:75
I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right,
          and that in faithfulness you have humbled me. 

Exod. 4:27a
The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses."

1 Cor. 14:12
So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.

Mark 9:35
[Jesus] sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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