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.

Welcome Sparrows, Welcome Swallows--March 17, 2019



Lord God of Hosts,
our King and our God,
in the womb you knew us.
You welcome even sparrows,
even swallows, to your altars.
Jesus welcomes us as mother,
sisters, and brothers,
if we but do his will.
His will is your will,
for we belong to him,
and he belongs to you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 150; 42; 32
Jer. 1:1-10
1 Cor. 3:11-23
Mark 3:31-4:9

Selected Verses
Ps. 84:3
Even the sparrow finds a home,
          and the swallow a nest for herself,
          where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
          my King and my God.

Jer. 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
     and before you were born I consecrated you;
     I appointed you a prophet to the nations." 
                        [The LORD, to Jeremiah]

1 Cor. 3:23
…and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Mark 3:35
"…Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."  [Jesus, to the crowd]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

1 comment:

  1. Mea SententiaMarch 17, 2019 at 8:12 AM

    This is lovely and touching. I like the shape of the words too.

    ReplyDelete

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