Scriptures for February 18

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.)

February 18, 2007
Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son
revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that
we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be
strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his
likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.


The Scriptures
Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Exodus 34:29-35
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the
mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses
did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been
talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses,
the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come
near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders
of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them.
Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in
commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.
When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his
face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with
him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he
came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the
Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face
was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again,
until he went in to speak with him.
_________________

Have you ever been with someone whose personality or sense of presence was so remarkable that they seemed to glow, or to appear vibrantly alive?
Who seems like a charismatic person to you?
_____________________________________________________

Psalm 99
1 The Lord is King; let the people tremble; *
he is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; *
he is high above all peoples.
3 Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
he is the Holy One.
4 "O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."
5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and fall down before his footstool; *
he is the Holy One.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests,
and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
you were a God who forgave them,
yet punished them for their evil deeds.
9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and worship him upon his holy hill; *
for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
______________________

Have you ever experienced the presence of God?
What happened?
_____________________________________________________

2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2
Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not
like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of
Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set
aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day,
when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is
still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to
this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their
minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now
the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the
glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being
transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to
another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in
this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the
shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or
to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we
commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of
God.
__________________

When has something confusing or troublesome been resolved through insight or intuition for you?
Can you remember some things that troubled you years ago but seem resolved now?
What do you feel that you truly know about God? About Jesus?
____________________________________________________

Luke 9:28-36
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him
Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and
his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men,
Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were
speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at
Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with
sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and
the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him,
Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let
us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for
Elijah"--not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a
cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they
entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
"This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had
spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those
days told no one any of the things they had seen.
_________________

When have you seen something that so grasped your attention that you experienced a sense of awe and wonder?
When have you looked at someone you love, and they seemed beautifully transfigured?
Which seems more real? These unusual experiences or your ordinary consciousness?
___________________________________________________________

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Lowell

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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.