Scritpures & Reflection Question for Nov. 19

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.)

November 19, 2006
24th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 28, Year B
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Scriptures
Daniel 12:1-3
Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-25
Mark 13:1-8

Daniel 12:1-3
"At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your
people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as
has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But
at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is
found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of
the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to
shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine
like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to
righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."
____________________

What is there about the future that motivates your actions and your faith now?
_________________________________________________

Psalm 16:1-11
1 Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; *
I have said to the Lord, "You are my Lord,
my good above all other."
2 All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, *
upon those who are noble among the people.
3 But those who run after other gods *
shall have their troubles multiplied.
4 Their libations of blood I will not offer, *
nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
5 O Lord, you are my portion and my cup; *
it is you who uphold my lot.
6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; *
my heart teaches me, night after night.
8 I have set the Lord always before me; *
because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
my body also shall rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11 You will show me the path of life; *
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
____________________

How would you describe the values of the psalmist?
How might you write this psalm?
__________________________________________________

Hebrews 10:11-25
And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering
again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away
sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice
for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God," and since then
has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for
his feet." For by a single offering he has perfected for all time
those who are sanctified.

And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, "This
is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says
the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write
them on their minds," he also adds, "I will remember their sins
and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of
these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the
sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that
he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his
flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our
bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession
of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is
faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love
and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit
of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see
the Day approaching.
__________________

How do you assure yourself of the forgiveness that God gives to us?
What are you doing to transform your heart to conform to God's intention?
______________________________________________________

Mark 13:1-8
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him,
"Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then
Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone
will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,
Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us,
when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things
are about to be accomplished?" Then Jesus began to say to them,
"Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name
and say, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. When you hear
of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take
place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in
various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning
of the birthpangs.
____________________

What human institutions do you think of as being fundamental or foundational to our way of life? From the long view of history, how permanent are they?
What fears for the future trouble you?
___________________________________________________

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Lowell

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