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.

Up, Out of the Cistern--Oct. 15, 2015

[From Oct. 17, 2013 archive]

Lord Jesus, we know that we are not worthy of you,
but we sink in the mud and flatter ourselves that
our iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

Pull us up out of the cistern, and give us
courage to take up the cross and follow you,
not because we are worthy, but to return your love.
And Jesus, may all that we do be done for building up.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 36; 147:12-20; 80; 27
Jer. 38:1-13
1 Cor. 14:26-40
Matt. 10:34-42

Selected Verses
Ps. 36:2
For they flatter themselves in their own eyes
          that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

Jer. 38: 6b, 13
Now there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.  … Then [Ebed-melech and three helpers] drew Jeremiah up by the ropes and pulled him out of the cistern.

1 Cor. 14:26b
Let all things be done for building up.

Matt. 10:38
"…and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  …"  [Jesus to his twelve disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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