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.

Thirst, and Thirst of the Soul--Feb. 11, 2020

[From Feb. 9, 2010 archive]

As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul thirsts for you, O God.

The peoples quarrel over wells;
they are crowded; they lack water.

What will you do to assuage our thirst—
thirst for water, and for your living water?

Your answer might be written on the ground,
or written in our hearts: Grace be with you all.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133
Gen. 26:1-6, 12-33
Heb. 13:17-25
John 7:53-8:11

Selected Verses
Ps. 42:1-2a
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
          so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
          for the living God.

Gen. 26:19-20
But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, the herders of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herders, saying, “The water is ours.”  So he called the well Esek, because they contended with him.

Heb. 13:25
Grace be with all of you.

John 8:6b
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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