Scriptures for Sunday, July 30

Here are the scripture readings for this upcoming Sunday.

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 and click the "comments" button at the bottom.

(St. Paul's uses the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary readings which are a little different from the Prayer Book Lections. The recent General Convention authorized the RCL as our official lectionary.)

July 30, 2006
8 Pentecost, (Proper 12) Year B
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145:10-18
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21

A Reading from the Second Book of Kings 4:42-44
A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, "Give it to the people and let them eat." But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred people?" So he repeated, "Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the Lord, 'They shall eat and have some left.'" He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.
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Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed about the needs of a poor and hungry world? What kind of faith would it take to overcome poverty and hunger?
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Psalm 145:10-18 Exaltabo te, Deus
All your works praise you, O Lord, *
and your faithful servants bless you.
They make known the glory of your kingdom *
and speak of your power;

That the peoples may know of your power *
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *
your dominion endures throughout all ages.

The Lord is faithful in all his words *
and merciful in all his deeds.
The Lord upholds all those who fall; *
he lifts up those who are bowed down.

The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, *
and you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand *
and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways *
and loving in all his works.
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Use your imagination. What do you think might have happened to prompt the psalmist to compose this particular poem?
Watch what happens to you today. What sort of psalm might your write about that?
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A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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Read this passage twice as though it were a prayer for you.
First, read it as though the apostle is praying this prayer for you.
Then, read it as your own heartfelt prayer for yourself.
Let this prayer be your own. Observe. What happens?
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The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 6:1-21
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world."

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
________________

If you were to summarize the meaning of this gospel, what would it be?
What is the significance that it is the gift from a child that was the catalyst for the miracle of feeding?
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On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought about the readings from the Daily Office.

Lowell

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

Scriptures for July 23

Here are the scripture readings for this upcoming Sunday.

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.

(St. Paul's uses the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary readings which are a little different from the Prayer Book Lections. The recent General Convention authorized the RCL as our official lectionary.)

July 23, 2006
7 Pentecost, (Proper 11) Year B
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 23
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34,53-56

Jeremiah 23:1-6
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my
pasture! says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of
Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is
you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and
you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your
evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant
of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I
will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful
and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will
shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be
dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up
for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal
wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And
this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our
righteousness."
______________

The shepherds are the leaders of Israel.
What strengths and weaknesses do you see our leaders?
What qualities would your ideal leaders have?
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Psalm 23:1-6
1 The Lord is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.
3 He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those
who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
_____________

Why do you think this has been the most beloved of all our Psalms?
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Ephesians 2:11-22
So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called
"the uncircumcision" by those who are called "the circumcision"-
-a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands--
remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens
from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants
of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now
in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near
by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has
made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall,
that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with
its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself
one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and
might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross,
thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and
proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who
were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit
to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,
but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the
household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him
the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy
temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together
spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
____________

How do you think the early Gentile Christians felt when they heard this message?
What challenge might this passage have presented for Jewish Christians?
What current divisions would you like to see reconciled in Christ?
How might that happen?
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Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they
had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away to a deserted
place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming
and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went
away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw
them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot
from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore,
he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because
they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach
them many things.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and
moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once
recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to
bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And
wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the
sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch
even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
____________

How do you handle days when you have more demands on you than you can handle?
Where do you find retreat, renewal, rest and refuge?
What do you need from Jesus?

Scriptures for July 16

Here are the scripture readings for this upcoming Sunday.

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.

(St. Paul's uses the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary readings which are a little different from the Prayer Book Lections. The recent General Convention authorized the RCL as our official lectionary.)

July 16, 2006
6 Pentecost, (Proper 10) Year B
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

Amos 7:7-15
Psalm 85:8-13
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29

Amos 7:7-15
This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall
built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the
Lord said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb
line." Then the Lord said,
"See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel;
I will never again pass them by;
the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."

Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel,sent to King Jeroboam of Israel,
saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the
house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus
Amos has said,
'Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel must go into exile away from his land.'"
And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of
Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again
prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple
of the kingdom."

Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's
son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and
the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said
to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
________________

Amaziah the priest of the official sanctuary at Bethel rebukes Amos for speaking what he believes to be against Israel's King Jeroboam. Amos claims he speaks for God.

Power never likes to be challenged by religious voices. Usually there are religious authorities who will speak on both sides of political issues. How do you know who speaks for God?
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Psalm 85:8-13
8 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their hearts to him.
9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth have met together; *
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him, *
and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.
_________________

This is a prayer for a nation. Read it as if it were written for our people.
What thoughts come to you?
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Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the
foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in
love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus
Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise
of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the
Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his
grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has
made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good
pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness
of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and
things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,
having been destined according to the purpose of him who
accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so
that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live
for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed
in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;
this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's
own people, to the praise of his glory.
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Read this lyrical passage as your own prayer of thanksgiving and praise for all that God has done for us.
(Note: the "we" probably refers to Paul and other Jewish Christians who first proclaimed Jesus as Messiah; the "you" probably refers to the Gentile Christians who heard the teaching of the church.)
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Mark 6:14-29
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some
were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead;
and for this reason these powers are at work in him." But others
said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one
of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said,
"John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him,
and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's
wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling
Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him.
But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was
a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard
him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a
banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of
Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she
pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl,
"Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." And he
solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you,
even half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her
mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John
the baptizer." Immediately she rushed back to the king and
requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the
Baptist on a platter." The king was deeply grieved; yet out of
regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to
refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with
orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the
prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl.
Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard
about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
____________

How would you describe the relationship between Herod and John as Mark presents it?
Have you ever made a decision out of regard for something outside yourself which may have conflicted with your inner convictions? Did you feel haunted by that decision?
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On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this list based upon that day's scripture readings from the Daily Office.

Lowell

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