Scriptures & Questions for May 28

Here are the scripture readings for this upcoming Sunday, May 28.

Suggestion: Print this and read a different passage each day and think about it (some questions are offered to help stimulate your reflection).

You'll find your experience of worship on Sunday will be intensified.

If you would like to comment on these scriptures or have some on-line conversation about them, please go to sundayscriptures@blogspot.com, find these readings, and click the "comments" button at the bottom.
(If you don't have a Blogger account, click "other" or "anonymous" at the comment page.)

May 28, 2006
Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year B
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the
crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said,
"Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy
Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a
guide for those who arrested Jesus-- for he was numbered among us
and was allotted his share in this ministry."

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time
that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the
baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one
of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." So
they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as
Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know
everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen
to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which
Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots
for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the
eleven apostles.
_____________

Have you ever been the one not chosen, like Joseph Barsabbas?
What helped you deal with that?
How do you make decisions? What do you think about casting lots in such a decision?
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Psalm 1
1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
2 Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *
and they meditate on his law day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
everything they do shall prosper.
4 It is not so with the wicked; *
they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
_____________________

Imagine yourself as a deep-rooted tree planted by streams of water.
What is it that nourishes, strengthens and grounds you?
__________________________________________________

1 John 5:9-13
If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater;
for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his
Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in
their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a
liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given
concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us
eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son
has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have
life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
____________________

In the writings of John, the term "eternal life" refers to a "quality" of life more than a "quantity" of life. What characterizes the quality of life that is eternal life?
Let your heart be joined to that quality of eternal life. How does that feel?
_________________________________________________

John 17:6-19
"I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the
world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have
kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me
is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to
them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came
from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on
their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on
behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All
mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in
them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the
world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your
name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are
one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that
you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost
except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might
be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these
things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in
themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated
them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not
belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the
world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do
not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent
me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for
their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be
sanctified in truth.
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This prayer Jesus offers for us. He invokes divine protection over us.
How have you known the way of Jesus to be in conflict with the ways of the world?
How brave do you feel in the presence of such conflicts?
__________________________________________________________________


Lowell

The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas