Scripture & Reflection Questions, Sept. 28
20 Pentecost, Proper 21
Year A
September 28, 2008Year A
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 Scriptures
We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
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Collect
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
__________
Ezekiel is establishing a new tradition that amends the ancient teaching that God carries guilt from one generation to another.
What is Ezekiel trying to do? What does it mean for us?
__________________________________________________________
Psalm 25:1-8 Ad te, Domine, levavi
To you, O God, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; *
let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
Show me your ways, O God, *
and teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
Remember, O God, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O God.
Gracious and upright are you; *
therefore you teach sinners in your way.
You guide the humble in doing right *
and teach your way to the lowly.
Philippians 2:1-13
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
_______________________
On the pride-humility continuum, where would you rank yourself?
What does it mean for you to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling?
How is God at work in you?
__________________________________________________________
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will say to us, `Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, `Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, `I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him."
____________________
This is a conversation guaranteed to provoke irritation and enemies.
Why is it that Jesus speaks so to the authorities?
What is his point about the story of the two sons?
Which of the sons are you most like?
__________
The Scriptures
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
Psalm 25: 1-8
Philippians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
The word of the LORD came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? As I live, says the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.
Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair." Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, "The way of the Lord is unfair." O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. Turn, then, and live.
_________________
Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair." Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, "The way of the Lord is unfair." O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. Turn, then, and live.
_________________
Ezekiel is establishing a new tradition that amends the ancient teaching that God carries guilt from one generation to another.
What is Ezekiel trying to do? What does it mean for us?
Psalm 25:1-8 Ad te, Domine, levavi
To you, O God, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; *
let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
Show me your ways, O God, *
and teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
Remember, O God, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O God.
Gracious and upright are you; *
therefore you teach sinners in your way.
You guide the humble in doing right *
and teach your way to the lowly.
(St. Helena Psalter)
__________________What part of this psalm grabs your attention?
Why?
_________________________________________________________Why?
Philippians 2:1-13
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,as something to be exploited,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,being born in human likeness.
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted himand became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesusthat is above every name,
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
to the glory of God the Father.
On the pride-humility continuum, where would you rank yourself?
What does it mean for you to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling?
How is God at work in you?
__________________________________________________________
Matthew 21:23-32
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will say to us, `Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, `Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, `I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him."
____________________
This is a conversation guaranteed to provoke irritation and enemies.
Why is it that Jesus speaks so to the authorities?
What is his point about the story of the two sons?
Which of the sons are you most like?
posted by Lowell @ 1:26 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
It seems to me that Ezekiel is establishing the foundation of God's grace as a method for saving the world. This passage warns of the dire consequences of transgression while pointing toward redemption. The message is eschatological, and seems to anticipate the work that God will do through Jesus in the New Testament ("get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!")
The passage also comments on the ultimate frailty and failure of human institutions and laws.
Thanks for the comment.
Yes, I also love that passage, "get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!"
Ezekiel seems to remove for us the excuse, "it's really my parents' fault." He forces us to face our own responsibility. When he was writing, it was conventional to point to the problems that Israel faced and to blame the unfaithfulness of earlier generations. (We see that tradition from the 10 Commandments and elsewhere: "I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation...")
Ezekiel insists that the people take responsibility in their own generation for their own faithfulness or lack thereof. Don't use those sayings anymore, he tells them. "The life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die." No more ancestor blaming.
Lowell
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