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.

By Your Mercy, Faithful God--March 20, 2021

 

God, by your mercy grant that we may come to you;

without you our paths are dark and slippery.

 

Into your hand we commit our spirits;

you have redeemed us, faithful God.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 43; 149; 31; 143

Jer. 23:9-15

Rom. 9:1-18

John 6:60-71

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 31:5

Into your hand I commit my spirit;
          you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

 

Jer. 23:12a

Therefore [the way of the ungodly prophets and priests] shall be to them
          like slippery paths in the darkness,
          into which they shall be driven and fall…

 

Rom. 9:16

So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. 

 

John 6:65

And [Jesus] said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” 


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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