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.

In Hope We Are Saved--March 22, 2020


Lord Jesus Christ, you are the bread of God
come down from heaven;
you give life to the world and fill us with hope.
Why should we be cast down,

if only we remember your past surprises?
In hope we are saved;
we wait for God, again we shall praise him,
Lord, grant us patience.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 150; 42; 32
Gen. 48:8-22
Rom. 8:11-25
John 6:27-40

Selected Verses
Ps. 42
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
          and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
          my help and my God.

Gen. 48:11
Israel said to Joseph, “I did not expect to see your face; and here God has let me see your children also.” 

Rom. 8:24-25
For in hope we were saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what is seen?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

John 6:33
“…For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  [Jesus, to the crowd] 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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