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 Power of the Spirit--Sept. 24, 2020

 

Other humans may grant us favors, O God,

but it is your gifts that we most value.

 

Your Spirit was on Jesus, 

and he brought to the poor 

good news; to the captives,

release; to the blind, sight;

to the oppressed, freedom.

 

Let your Spirit lead us on a level path,

and teach us to do your will.

Your word prevails.

 

Lectionary Readings

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

Esth. 7:1-10

Acts 19:11-20

Luke 4:14-30

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 143:10

Teach me to do your will,
          for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
          on a level path.

 

Esth. 7:3

Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me—that is my petition—and the lives of my people—that is my request.  …”

 

Acts 19:20

So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

 

Luke 4:18

“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…”  [Jesus, reading from Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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