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?
____________________________________________________

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?
_____________________________________________________

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?
_______________________________________________________

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?