Scriptures & Questions for Palm/Passion Sunday

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.)

April 1, 2007
Palm/Passion Sunday, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the
human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to
take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross,
giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant
that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share
in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.


The Scriptures

Liturgy Of The Palms:
Luke 19:28-40

Liturgy Of The Passion:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 23:1-49


Liturgy of the Palms
Luke 19:28-40
After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place
called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying,
"Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will
find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring
it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say
this, 'The Lord needs it.'" So those who were sent departed and
found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its
owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They said,
"The Lord needs it." Then they brought it to Jesus; and after
throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he
rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he
was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the
whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully
with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,
saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" Some of the
Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your
disciples to stop." He answered, "I tell you, if these were
silent, the stones would shout out."
_________________________

Jesus enters Jerusalem in a way that reminds people of the Messianic prophecies of the Hebrew scriptures. Imagine their hopes. The long-awaited Messiah who would bring redemption to God's people and liberation from oppression. What expectations would Jesus fulfill? What expectations would Jesus not fulfill?
_______________________________________________________

Liturgy of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may
know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning
he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The
Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not
turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my
cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not
be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend
with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who
will declare me guilty?
_________________________

When have you known yourself to be challenged or shamed and your only recourse was to trust in God?
_______________________________________________________

Psalm 31:9-16
9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me;
they plot to take my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. *
I have said, "You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me."
______________________

When have you prayed to God in desperation?
_____________________________________________________

Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though
he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as
something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form
of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in
human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point
of death-- even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name
that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.
_________________________

How easy or difficult is it for you to live and serve humbly?
______________________________________________________



Luke 23:1-49
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate.
They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting
our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying
that he himself is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him,
"Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." Then
Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis
for an accusation against this man." But they were insistent and
said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea,
from Galilee where he began even to this place."
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a
Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's
jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in
Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad,
for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he
had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some
sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no
answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently
accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with
contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him,
and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate
became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and
the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one
who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in
your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your
charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us.
Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have
him flogged and release him."
Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow!
Release Barabbas for us!" (This was a man who had been put in
prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for
murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again;
but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he
said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no
ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him
flogged and then release him." But they kept urgently demanding
with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices
prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be
granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been
put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus
over as they wished.
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene,
who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him,
and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people
followed him, and among them were women who were beating
their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and
said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for
yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming
when they will say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that
never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will
begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover
us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen
when it is dry?"
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put
to death with him. When they came to the place that is called
The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his
right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them;
for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to
divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the
leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save
himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers
also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and
saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was
also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him
and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But
the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are
under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have
been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our
deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said,
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied,
"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the
curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a
loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."
Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw
what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this
man was innocent." And when all the crowds who had gathered there
for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home,
beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the
women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance,
watching these things.
_________________________

What catches your attention in this reading of the Passion?
Why?
___________________________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html and follow the instructions.

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought about the readings from the Daily Office.

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.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures for March 18; 4 Lent yr C

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.)

March 18, 2007
Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down
from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world:
Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in
him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Scriptures
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3,11b-32


Joshua 5:9-12
The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the
disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.
While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the
passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the
plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very
day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and
parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce
of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the
crops of the land of Canaan that year.
___________________________

When have you made it to the first day of a big transition?
What was that like? Did things turn out the way you had hoped?
_____________________________________________________

Psalm 32
1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
and whose sin is put away!

2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *
and in whose spirit there is no guile!

3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
because of my groaning all day long.

4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
and did not conceal my guilt.

6 I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." *
Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.

7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in
time of trouble; *
when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.

8 You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; *
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

9 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; *
I will guide you with my eye.

10 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *
who must be fitted with bit and bridle,
or else they will not stay near you."

11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *
but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.

12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.
____________________________

Which of these verses grabs your attention? Why?
___________________________________________________

2 Corinthians 5:16-21
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of
view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,
we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ,
there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see,
everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled
us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world
to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and
entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are
ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through
us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For
our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we
might become the righteousness of God.
_____________________________

Think of yourself as a new creation?
What does that mean to you?
_________________________________________________

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen
to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and
saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he
told them this parable:
"There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said
to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will
belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few
days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a
distant country, and there he squandered his property in
dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine
took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that
country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would
gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were
eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself
he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough
and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go
to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called
your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off
and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his
father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his
arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him,
'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no
longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his
slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe-- the best one--and put it on
him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get
the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for
this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is
found!' And they began to celebrate.
"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and
approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one
of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your
brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because
he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and
refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.
But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your
command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that
I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came
back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed
the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are
always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate
and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to
life; he was lost and has been found.'"
_____________________

Which character are you most like? The prodigal? The elder son? The father? The fatted calf?
What does this story say to you about God? About us?
___________________________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html and follow the instructions.

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought about the readings from the Daily Office.

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.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Readings for March 11, 3 Lent, Year C

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 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.)

March11, 2007
Third Sunday in Lent, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves
to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and
inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all
adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil
thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; 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 3:1-15
Psalms 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9

Exodus 3:1-15
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the
priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and
came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and
the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said,
"I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the
bush is not burned up." When the Lord saw that he had turned
aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!"
And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove
the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are
standing is holy ground." He said further, "I am the God of your
father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Then the Lord said, "I have observed the misery of my
people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their
taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come
down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out
of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk
and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the
Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The
cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how
the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh
to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." But Moses said
to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the
Israelites out of Egypt?" He said, "I will be with you; and this
shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you
have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on
this mountain."

But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say
to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they
ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to
Moses, "I am who I am." He said further, "Thus you shall say to
the Israelites, 'I am has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses,
"Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob, has sent me to you': This is my name forever, and this my
title for all generations.
______________________

When has something strange or beautiful caught your attention?
Did you stop long enough for it to communicate with you?
Meditate on the name of God: YHWH -- I am who I am -- (also translated, "I am what I am" or "I will be what I will be")
___________________________________________________

Psalm 63:1-8
1 O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; *
my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.

2 Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, *
that I might behold your power and your glory.

3 For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; *
my lips shall give you praise.

4 So will I bless you as long as I live *
and lift up my hands in your Name.

5 My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, *
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,

6 When I remember you upon my bed, *
and meditate on you in the night watches.

7 For you have been my helper, *
and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.

8 My soul clings to you; *
your right hand holds me fast.
______________________

What is your desire for God like?
What if you desired God as much as your would desire air if your head were being held underwater?
___________________________________________________

1 Corinthians 10:1-13
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our
ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the
sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the
sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same
spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that
followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was
not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in
the wilderness.
Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that
we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as
some of them did; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat
and drink, and they rose up to play." We must not indulge in
sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand
fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some
of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain
as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These
things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were
written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have
come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not
fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to
everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested
beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide
the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
______________________

How might you use this passage as a focus for your Lent?
___________________________________________________

Luke 13:1-9
At that very time there were some present who told him about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans
suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other
Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all
perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the
tower of Siloam fell on them--do you think that they were worse
offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell
you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they
did."

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted
in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found
none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I
have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none.
Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied,
'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and
put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but
if not, you can cut it down.'"
______________________

When have you found yourself shrinking away from someone because of their experience of tragedy or extreme suffering?
When have you postponed judgment to all a second chance or more time for maturing? When has that patience been rewarded? When has it not been rewarded?
___________________________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html and follow the instructions.

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought about the readings from the Daily Office.

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.