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.

To Speak to the Future--March 30, 2020


Servant Lord,
you call us to serve.

We ask for spiritual gifts;
it is not to glorify ourselves,
but to laud your works to others,
 to declare your mighty acts,
and build your church.

From past generations
of servants we have received;
speak through us to future ones,
by our words, by our deeds.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 119:73-80; 145; 121; 6
Exod. 4:10-31
1 Cor. 14:1-19
Mark 9:30-41

Selected Verses
Ps. 145:4
One generation shall laud your works to another,
          and shall declare your mighty acts.

Exod. 4:16
“…[Aaron] indeed shall speak for you to the people; he shall serve as a mouth for you, and you shall serve as God for him.  …”

1 Cor. 14:12
So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.

Mark 9:35
[Jesus] sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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