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.

What Profit, to Gain the Whole World?--Aug. 7, 2019


O Mighty One, Lord Jesus,
come to my heart and enter in,
for I have made a place for you there.
Let your Holy Spirit come upon me,
that I may show kindness to those
to whom you showed kindness.
What will it profit me to gain
the whole world and forfeit
my life?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 147:1-11; 132; 134
2 Sam. 9:1-13
Acts 19:1-10
Mark 8:34-9:1

Selected Verses
Ps. 132:4-5
I will not give sleep to my eyes
          or slumber to my eyelids,
until I find a place for the LORD,
          a dwelling-place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

2 Sam. 9:1-13
David asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

Acts 19:6
When Paul had laid his hands on [the disciples in Corinth], the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied  …

Mark 8:35
“…For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? …”  [Jesus, to the crowd and his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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