When We Try to Hide the Truth--Sept. 27, 2012

Haman sought to hide what he had done

to the queen, and Haman met disaster;

so did the exorcists who tried to hide

behind the names of Jesus and Paul.

When Jesus announced his ministry,

he did not hide the source of his authority;

he said you anointed him to bring good news

to the poor and the blind and the oppressed.

When I am tempted to conceal who I am

or what I have done, let your good

spirit lead me on a level path.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 143; 147:12-20; 81; 116

Esth. 7:1-10

Acts 19:11-20

Luke 4:14-30

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 143:10b

Let your good spirit lead me
          on a level path.

Esth. 7:5-6a

Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?"  Esther said, "A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!"

Acts 19:13, 15

Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." …But the evil spirit said to them in reply, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"

Luke 4:18-19

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."  [Jesus, reading from Isaiah in his hometown synagogue]