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.

To the Source of All Authority--Oct. 5, 2021

[From Oct. 10, 2017 archive]

 

God of our life, Giver of all things,

we enjoy showing our authority over others,

but may we never forget that all human authority

is as nothing compared to the command you exercise, 

day by day, through your words of steadfast love. 

May your words, your song, be ever with us,

and to you be all the glory.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133

2 Kings  22:1-13

1 Cor. 11:2-22

Matt. 9:1-8

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 42:8

By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, 
          and at night his song is with me, 
          a prayer to the God of my life.

 

2 Kings 22:11

When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 

 

1 Cor. 11:12

For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God. 

 

Matt. 9:6-8

“…But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—

 [Jesus] then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.”  And he stood up and went to his home.  When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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