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.

Persistence, when We Call for Mercy--Feb. 14, 2015


Blind beggars, we call to you for mercy, Lord.
Sometimes you answer on the day we call,
increasing the strength of our soul;
then we greatly rejoice in you;
our whole being exults
in you, our God.

At other times
we must be persistent,
whether the time is favorable
or unfavorable, with utmost patience,
as we call to you and as we preach your message.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98
Isa. 61:10-62:5
2 Tim. 4:1-8
Mark 10:46-52

Selected Verses
Ps. 138:3
 On the day I called, you answered me,
          you increased my strength of soul.

Isa. 61:10a
 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
          my whole being shall exult in my God…

2 Tim. 4:2
…proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.

Mark 10:47
When [Bartimaeus, the blind beggar] heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

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