Scriptures for 4 Advent, Sun. 24

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 24, 2006
4th Sunday of Advent, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation,
that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a
mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Scriptures
Micah 5:2-5a
Luke 1:47-55
Heb 10:5-10
Lk 1:39-45,(46-55)

Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little
clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to
rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in
labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall
return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his
flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of
the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be
great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.
_________________

What hopes does Micah articulate?
He expects these hopes to be fulfilled from one of the least of the tribes of Israel. When have you seen great hopes fulfilled from humble origins?
___________________________________________________

Canticle 5 The Song of Mary Magnificat; Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
____________________

This song comes from a peasant woman.
Her words have revolutionary political and economic aspirations.
What reversals do you find present in her song?
_____________________________________________________

Hebrews 10:5-10
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you
have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you
have taken no pleasure. Then I said, 'See, God, I have come to do
your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of
me)." When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken
pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin
offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he
added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first
in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we
have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.
_____________________

Try to focus today upon the will of God.
What would it be like for you to sacrifice today entirely to the will of God?
_______________________________________________________

Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town
in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and
greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the
child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy
Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this
happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as
soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb
leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would
be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."
_________________

Mary seeks counsel and support from her older cousin Elizabeth.
Who do you go to when you need such friendship and support?
___________________________________________________________

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Lowell

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