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.

If Only the Fringe of Christ’s Cloak--Oct. 7, 2021

[From Oct. 12, 2017 archive]

 

You are the King, let the earth rejoice. 

You are the King, let all the far places be glad. 

You are King, let me touch the fringe of your cloak. 

You are King; with all my heart, with all my soul, 

with all my might I turn to you and am glad. 

May your Spirit activate your gifts 

in me, just as you choose.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62

2 Kings 23:4-25

1 Cor. 12:1-11

Matt. 9:18-26

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 97:1

 The LORD is king!  Let the earth rejoice; 
          let the many coastlands be glad! 

 

2 Kings 23:25

Before [Josiah] there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

 

1 Cor. 12:11

All these [gifts] are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

 

Matt. 9:20

Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind [Jesus] and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

3 comments:

  1. Mea SententiaOctober 7, 2021 at 10:12 PM

    Beautiful! I love the image of touching the fringe of a cloak.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elmer E. EwingOctober 7, 2021 at 11:37 PM

    Yes, the image reminds me that it is important to get as close to Jesus as we can, while appreciating that there is great value in trying, even if we don't succeed in making it all the way into his presence.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Elmer E. EwingOctober 7, 2021 at 11:40 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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