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.

By What Authority?--April 20, 2021

 

Teach me, O God, and make me remember,

real authority is not what I bestow on myself,

it is not even to be earned; all authority is yours. 

 

No human ever had the authority you gave Jesus,

but he came as a servant, child of a servant,

and he showed his authority by his love.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 98; 146; 66; 116

Dan. 4:28-37

1 John 4:7-21

Luke 4:31-37

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 116:16

O LORD, I am your servant;
          I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
          You have loosed my bonds.

 

Dan. 4:30

…and the king said, “Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty?” 

 

1 John 4:21

The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

 

Luke 4:31-32

[Jesus] went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. 


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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