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.

Make in Our Hearts a Dwelling Place--April 7, 2019


Lord of Hosts, you are a God near to us
and a God far removed; you fill
heaven and earth.

We cannot hide, God, but how lovely
your presence.  Come dwell
in our hearts.

Set our minds on divine things,
lest we run aimlessly--
make us servants

to all.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 150; 42; 32
Jer. 23:16-32
1 Cor. 9:19-27
Mark 8:31-9:1

Selected Verses
Ps. 84:1
How lovely is your dwelling place,
          O LORD of hosts! 

Jer. 23:23-24
Am I a God near by, says the LORD, and not a God far off?  Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the LORD.  Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD.

1 Cor. 9:19, 26
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.  … So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air…

Mark 8:33
But turning and looking at his disciples, [Jesus] rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan!  For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."


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Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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