April 11, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 25, 34, 91
Lamentations 1:17-22
2 Corinthians 1:8-22
Mark 11:27-33

II. Selections
Psalm 25:1-2
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.

Lamentations 1:17a
Zion stretches out her hands;
but there is no one to comfort her ...

2 Corinthians 1:8b-9
...for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Mark 11:33b
And Jesus said to [ the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders], "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

III. Meditation: By what authority?
To you, O God, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.

We stretch out our hands;
but there is no one to comfort us.
We have been so utterly, unbearably crushed
that we have despaired of life itself.

Have you given us the sentence of death
so that we would rely not on ourselves,
but on the One who raises the dead?
Is it by this authority that you do these things? ;