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.

Christ, Make Us Aware--March 27, 2018


Christ Jesus, you do not want us to be unaware
of the afflictions your children are experiencing
in the war zones of Asia.  They are so utterly,
unbearably crushed that they despair of life.
In the street the gun bereaves, in the house
it is like death.  Their stomachs churn,
their hearts are wrung within them.
How great is their distress!

How long Lord, before we
learn to accept your authority?
You are near to the brokenhearted,
and you save the crushed in spirit.
Show us how we can be of help.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 34; 146; 25; 91
Lam. 1:17-22
2 Cor. 1:8-22
Mark 11:27-33

Selected Verses
Ps. 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted,
          and saves the crushed in spirit.

Lam. 1:20
See, O LORD, how distressed I am; my stomach churns, my heart is wrung within me, because I have been very rebellious.  In the street the sword bereaves; in the house it is like death.

2 Cor. 1:8
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.

Mark 11:33
So [the chief priests, scribes, and elders] answered Jesus, "We do not know."  And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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