My Thoughts on Today's Bible Readings

Today's readings speak of power- the power of people in positions of authority over the life and well-being of others. It reminds me of a story where a king wanted to prove that he was a god. Thus the king had two slaves dragged out, beheaded one, and said that there was the prove of his godliness- he commanded one slave to live, and the slave lived, while he commanded the other slave to die, and the slave died. That's how it was with both the priests of Jeremiah's time and the Romans in authority of Jesus' time. Nothing stood between them and the exercise of this power except conscience and fear of repercussions.
The people in democratic positions of authority have a similar power nowadays: the power to make or break people's career and lives. Let us pray that they use this power with God in mind, and those who feel the effects of this power do so with God in mind too.