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.

For the Worn Out--April 27, 2020


For many in these times,
the task has been too heavy,
especially if attempted alone.

With crowds arriving from afar,
the flood has swept them away;
the torrent has gone over them.

They have worn themselves out
and those who were with them;
they were examples to others.

Have mercy on them, O God;
sustain them, heal them.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Exod. 18:13-27
1 Peter 5:1-14
Matt. 1:1-17, 3:1-6

Selected Verses
Ps. 124:4
…then the flood would have swept us away,
          the torrent would have gone over us…

Exod. 18:18
“…You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you.  For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.  …”  [Moses’ father-in-law, to Moses]

1 Peter 5:3
Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.

Matt. 3:5
Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to [John the Baptist], and all the region along the Jordan…

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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