How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). I've written some instructions on how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link: Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
____

The Collect
Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Scriptures

Ezekiel 33:7-11
Psalm 119:33-40
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20

Ezekiel 33:7-11

You, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?" Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

_________________

How do you require accountability? For yourself? For others?

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Psalm 119:33-40 Legem pone

Teach me, O God, the way of your statutes, *

and I shall keep it to the end.

Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *

I shall keep it with all my heart.

Make me go in the path of your commandments, *

for that is my desire.

Incline my heart to your decrees *

and not to unjust gain.

Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *

give me life in your ways.

Fulfill your promise to your servant, *

which you make to those who fear you.

Turn away the reproach which I dread, *

because your judgments are good.

Behold, I long for your commandments; *

in your righteousness preserve my life.

(St. Helena Psalter)

__________________

Let this portion of psalm be your personal prayer to God.
What comes to your mind as you think of these words in the context of your life?

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Romans 13:8-14

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

_______________________

Try to live today with the one commandment at the forefront of your consciousness: "love one another."
At the end of the day, reflect on what happened.

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Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

____________________

What do you think of this process for reconciling conflict?
(Note: The condition of being "as a Gentile and a tax collector" would not necessarily mean being expelled from the congregation, since Gentiles and tax collectors were welcomed into the fellowship of Christ and Christ's church.)
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For a way to Pray with these scriptures, go to the following link for instructions about how to use Lectio Divina with the Sunday readings: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html
Link to Lectio Divina instructions

Scriptures and Questions for August 24

15 Pentecost, Proper 16
Year A
August 24, 2008
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). I've written some instructions on how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link:
Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections – http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.

The Collect

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Ame

n.

The Scriptures Isaiah 51:1-6 Psalm 138 Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20 Isaiah 51:1-6 Thus says the Lord: "Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the LORD. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many. For the LORD will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended." _________________ How do you answer the question, "Who are you? Where are you from?" What would it mean to you to fulfill the potential that is in you? What would it mean for our nation to fulfill it's dream, its potential? What lasts forever? __________________________________________________________ Psalm 138 Confitebor tibi I will give thanks to you, O God, with my whole heart; * before the gods I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your Name, * because of your love and faithfulness; For you have glorified your Name * and your word above all things. When I called, you answered me; * you increased my strength within me. All the rulers of the earth will praise you, O God, * when they have heard the words of your mouth. They will sing of the ways of God, * that great is the glory of God, Who is on high, yet cares for the lowly, * and perceives the haughty from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; * you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me. You will make good your purpose for me; * O God, your love endures for ever; do not abandon the works of your hands. (St. Helena Psalter) __________________ Imagine the circumstances that prompted the Psalmist to pray this way. How might this prayer be incorporated into your prayer to God? _________________________________________________________ Romans 12:1-8 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. _______________________ How would you respond to Paul's appeal in this first paragraph if he stopped there an expected you to reply? After your conversation, how might the second paragraph be an appropriate response from Paul to you? __________________________________________________________ Matthew 16:13-20 When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. ____________________ When have you suddenly realized something significant that changed your whole perspective? Has your understanding of God evolved through the years? If so, how? What about your understanding of Jesus? ...of the Holy Spirit? __________________________________________________________ For a way to Pray with these scriptures, go to the following link for instructions about how to use Lectio Divina with the Sunday readings: Praying the Scriptures with Lectio (http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html)

Scriptures & Questions for August 17

14 Pentecost, Proper 15
Year A
August 17, 2008
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). I've written some instructions on how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link:
Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections – http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.

Collect
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Scriptures

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Psalm 67
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15: 21-28

Isaiah 56:1,6-8

Thus says the LORD:
Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come,
and my deliverance be revealed.
And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
and hold fast my covenant--
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.
Thus says the Lord GOD,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather others to them
besides those already gathered.

_________________

In a tribal culture, how surprising must this prophesy have been?
What does this say to us?
__________________________________________________________

Psalm 67 Deus misereatur

Be merciful to us, O God, and bless us, *
show us the light of your countenance and come to us.

Let your ways be known upon earth, *
your saving health among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *
for you judge the peoples with equity and guide all the nations upon earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has brought forth its increase; *
may you, our own God, give us your blessing.

May you give us your blessing, *
and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of you.

(St. Helena Psalter)

__________________

Imagine you are reading this as a Hindu in India, a Buddhist in Vietnam, a Muslim in Iran. How would you hear this psalm?
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Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

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The Jews have rejected Jesus. They do not acknowledge him as Messiah. Christians are being expelled from synagogues. Paul is certain that Jews have failed to recognize God's Messiah in Jesus. Yet, Paul is certain that the Jews are included in God's salvation, and he rejoices that their "disobedience" has opened the way of God to Gentiles. What might this say to us about other non-Christians?
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Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus left Gennesaret and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

____________________

Imagine the cultural prejudices present in this story. This person is a Canaanite (dog). This person is a woman. The barriers between her and a Jewish Rabbi are profound. What happens?
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For a way to Pray with these scriptures, go to the following link for instructions about how to use Lectio Divina with the Sunday readings:
Praying the Scriptures with Lectio (http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html)