God is depicted as “pulling down” those in high places because of their arrogance. Why do you think abuse of power and authority is such a perennial temptation? How have you dealt with that temptation in your own life?

Peter gets chosen as many as 28 times in a century (from the years 867 to 965), although we’ve only had 10 popes in the past 100 years. A pope may govern as long as Pius IX (31 years) or Urban VII (12 days). Nobody includes the original Peter in the longevity ranking, because we don’t really know when to start the clock on his rule, and only vaguely can we pinpoint its end.

When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”

Earlier this summer as our country reeled and roiled in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, I finally read a book that I had been sitting on my bedside table for over a year.

At a new job I took years ago, everyone I met in my first days mentioned how the general manager of the organization was a genius. They spoke of him in awed tones. And so when I met him, I was disappointed.

Paul calls God’s judgments inscrutable. Inscrutable, indeed! Most of us see no rhyme or reason to half the events that take place each day. We don’t understand how or why certain people have great power or influence and others barely have any.

Back in the 1950s there was a popular TV quiz show called What’s My Line? Four celebrity panelists would each ask questions until they received a “no” answer from a contestant. They were trying to guess the contestant’s unusual occupation.

The Lord does not forsake the work of his hands. Let us place ourselves in those hands.

I am to be loved, honored and respected solely because I exist. I am to be cherished, spoiled, celebrated because I Am! I was made to be admired. I am a beloved child of God after all.