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.

The Name Alone Exalted--April 11, 2014


When we have some form of power over others,
it is easy to exalt ourselves against them--
to try to keep them under our control.

But dear Jesus, you came to serve,
not to be served--to give your life for us.
We proclaim you Lord, ourselves your slaves.

And we praise your name, your name that is
alone exalted; for your glory is above
both earth and heaven.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 22; 148; 105; 130
Exod. 9:13-35
2 Cor. 4:1-12
Mark 10:32-45

Selected Verses
Ps. 148:13
 Let [everyone] praise the name of the Lord,
          for his name alone is exalted;
          his glory is above earth and heaven. 

Exod. 9:17
"'…You are still exalting yourself against my people, and will not let them go.  …'"  [Moses quotes to Pharaoh the words of the LORD]

2 Cor. 4:5
For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.                       

Mark 10:42
"…For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."  [Jesus to his disciples]

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