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.

My Soul Clings to You--Jan. 27, 2018


My soul clings to you, Jesus; your right
hand upholds me; I shall not be afraid--
for is anything too wonderful for you?
Help me remember that your love
 is better and more lasting than
all of my possessions.

Your love is not for me alone;
I ask you to be present with
all those who suffer in prison,
especially those who are tortured
or kept in long solitary confinement.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
Gen. 18:1-16
Heb. 10:26-39
John 6:16-27

Selected Verses
Ps. 63:8
My soul clings to you;
          your right hand upholds me.

Gen. 18:13-14
The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'  Is anything too wonderful for the LORD?  At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son."

Heb. 10:34
For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. 

John 6:20
But [Jesus] said to [his disciples], "It is I; do not be afraid."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)