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.
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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?
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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.
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Which of these verses grabs your attention? Why?
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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.
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Think of yourself as a new creation?
What does that mean to you?
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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.'"
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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?
___________________________________________________________

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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.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org