Readings for Sunday , Dec 17; 3 Advent

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.)

December 17, 2006
3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come
among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and
the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Scriptures
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Canticle 9: Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18

Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult
with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken
away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear
disaster no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do
not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The Lord, your
God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will
rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he
will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival. I
will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach
for it. I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I
will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change
their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time
I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will
make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.
_____________

What does it mean to you that God is for you?
_____________________________________________________

Canticle 9, The First Song of Isaiah Ecce, Deus

Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
____________________

Let this confident hymn be your own. Read it again as if it were your own song.
_______________________________________________________

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your
gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry
about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
_____________________

Read this rich passage over again a few time. Make it your own.
________________________________________________________

Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You
brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to
yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you,
God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree
therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire."

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply
he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone
who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."
Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him,
"Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more
than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him,
"And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort
money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be
satisfied with your wages."

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning
in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but
one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie
the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn
with unquenchable fire."

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
______________________

If John the Baptist were to speak to you like he does to the tax collectors and soldiers, what would he say to you?
Who in your life tells you the hard truth?
___________________________________________________________

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Lowell

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