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.

When Calamity Strikes--Feb. 21, 2018

[From Feb. 13, 2008 archive]

Calamity strikes; we do not know where to turn.
And then we search for you.  Everyone does.
Human wisdom is insufficient for our faith;
we need your power.  So, early in the
morning we plead our case to you,
plead that you will hear us; and
we watch…wait and watch.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 5; 147:1-11; 27; 51
Gen. 37:25-36
1 Cor. 2:1-13
Mark 1:29-45

Selected Verses
Ps. 5:3
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
            in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

Gen. 37:30
 [Reuben] returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where can I turn?”

1 Cor. 2:5
…so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Mark 1:37
When [Simon and his companions] found [Jesus], they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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