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.

Sown in Tears, Harvested in Joy--March 3, 2022

[From March 6, 2014 archive]

 

Lord Jesus Christ, you glorified God 

by finishing the work God gave you to do. 

Help us finish the work you have given us to do, 

so that, even in our small way, we too may glorify God. 

 

Though it was in tears that we went out to sow your seed, 

may we shout in joy when we return with our harvest. 

Lord of our salvation, we rejoice, we exult in you. 

Pray transform us to conform to your glory. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 27; 147:12-20; 126; 102

Hab. 3:1-18

Phil. 3:12-21

John 17:1-8

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 126:6 

Those who go out weeping, 
          bearing the seed for sowing, 
shall come home with shouts of joy, 
          carrying their sheaves. 

 

Hab. 3:18 

…yet I will rejoice in the LORD; 

            I will exult in the God of my salvation. 

 

Phil. 3:21 

[The Lord Jesus Christ] will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 

 

John 17:4 

“…I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.  …”  [Jesus, praying]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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