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.

A Bandit, or the Glory of God?--Aug. 31, 2019


 [From Aug. 31, 2013 archive]

Lord Jesus, some looked at you and saw a bandit to arrest;
and everywhere you and your people were spoken against.

But others looked at you and beheld your power and glory,
glory like the glory of God, glory that filled the holy place.

O Jesus, fill our eyes with the sight of your glory, we pray.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
1 Kings 7:51-8:21
Acts 28:17-31
Mark 14:43-52

Selected Verses
Ps. 63:2
 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
          beholding your power and glory.

1 Kings 8:11
…so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

Acts 28:22
"…But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."  [The leaders of the Jews in Rome to Paul]

Mark 14:48
Then Jesus said to [the crowd bearing weapons], “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit?  …"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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