Scriptures & Reflection Questions, Nov. 2

All Saints' Sunday
Year A

November 2, 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 with the Scriptures
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The Collect for the Day Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. _____________________________________ The Scriptures Revelation 7:9-17 Psalm 34:1-10, 22 1 John 3:1-3 Matthew 5:1-12 Revelation 7:9-17 After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. "Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? "I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows. " Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." _________________ Imagine those around the world from every tribe and people and language who hunger and thirst, who suffer from poverty, violence or need. What does this vision mean for them? What does this vision mean for you? __________________________________________________________ Psalm 34:1-10, 22 O God, you will ransom the life of your servants, * and none will be punished who trust in you. I will bless God at all times, * and praise shall ever be in my mouth. I will glory in the Holy One; * let the humble hear and rejoice. Proclaim with me the greatness of God; * let us exalt God’s Name together. I sought, and God answered me * and delivered me out of all my terror. Look upon the Most High and be radiant, * and let not your faces be ashamed. I called in my affliction and God heard me * and saved me from all my troubles. The angels encompass those who fear God, * and God will deliver them. Taste and see that God is good; * happy are they who trust in the Most High! Fear the Most High, you that are God’s saints, * for those who fear God lack nothing. The young lions lack and suffer hunger, * but those who seek God lack nothing that is good. (St. Helena Psalter) __________________ When have you called upon God and sensed some kind of answer? How do you renew your trust when you do not sense an answer from God? _________________________________________________________ 1 John 3:1-3 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. _______________________ What does it mean to you to be a child of God? Are you deeply convinced in your gut that you are God's child? You are, you know. __________________________________________________________ Matthew 5:1-12 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ____________________ Imagine the crowd that first listened to these words. Who was excited to hear this? Who was perplexed? Who was bored or disappointed? Why? __________________________________________________________ For a way to Pray with these scriptures, go to the following address for instructions about how to use Lectio Divina with the Sunday readings: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for October 26

24 Pentecost, Proper 25
Year A

October 26, 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 with the Scriptures
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Collect of the Day
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Scriptures Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 Psalm 1 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Matthew 22:34-46 Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD. You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. _________________ How would you re-write or interpret these words in more contemporary language? __________________________________________________________ Psalm 1 Beatus vir qui non abiit Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, * nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful! Their delight is in the law of the Holy One, * and they meditate on that law day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; * everything they do shall prosper. It is not so with the wicked; * they are like chaff which the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, * nor the sinner in the council of the righteous; For the Holy One knows the way of the righteous, * but the way of the wicked is doomed. (St. Helena Psalter) __________________ Where do you find your deepest happiness? _________________________________________________________ 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. _______________________ Which is generally foremost in your mind: pleasing the people close to you or pleasing God? How do you focus on pleasing God? __________________________________________________________ Matthew 22:34-46 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "`You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, `The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet"'? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. ____________________ What would your life be if you reduced everything to this summary of the law and prophets? How do you understand Jesus' response to the second question? __________________________________________________________

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for October 19

23 Pentecost, Proper 24
Year A

October 19, 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 with the Scriptures

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Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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The Scriptures

Isaiah 45:1-7
Psalm 96:1-9
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22

Isaiah 45:1-7

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him
and strip kings of their robes,
to open doors before him--
and the gates shall not be closed:
I will go before you
and level the mountains,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
I will give you the treasures of darkness
and riches hidden in secret places,
so that you may know that it is I, the LORD,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I surname you, though you do not know me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other;
besides me there is no god.
I arm you, though you do not know me,
so that they may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is no one besides me;
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
I form light and create darkness,
I make weal and create woe;
I the LORD do all these things.

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Isaiah calls Cyrus God's "anointed" (that's the same word as "Messiah"). Yet Cyrus is not Jewish; he is a foreign king following a foreign god. What does this remarkable passage mean to you? How might it influence your view of foreign things today?

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Psalm 96:1-9 Cantate Domino

Sing to God a new song; *
sing to God all the whole earth.

Sing and bless God's holy Name; *
proclaim the good news of salvation from day to day.

Declare God's glory among the nations, *
God's wonders among all peoples.

For God is great and greatly to be praised, *
more to be feared than all gods.

As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols, *
but it is God who made the heavens.

Oh, the majesty and magnificence of God's presence! *
Oh, the power and the splendor of God's sanctuary!

Ascribe to God, you families of the peoples, *
ascribe to God honor and power.

Ascribe due honor to God's holy Name; *
bring offerings and come into the courts of praise.

Worship the Most High in the beauty of holiness; *
may the whole earth stand in awe.

(St. Helena Psalter)

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What are some of your favorite hymns? What is it about them that helps you "sing and bless God's holy Name"?
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1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

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Paul speaks fondly of the church in Thessaloniki, a congregation that was smaller and poorer than many. What are some of the marks of faithfulness that you look for when you wish to complement a church congregation?

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Matthew 22:15-22

The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

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Where are the conflicts in your life between the demands of God and the claims of secular authorities? Where are the conflicts in your life between you commitment to God and financial or money things?

Scriptures and Questions for October 12

22 Pentecost, Proper 23
Year A

October 12, 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 with the Scriptures

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
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The Collect

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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The Scriptures


Isaiah 25:1-9
Psalm 23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14



Isaiah 25:1-9

O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
For you have made the city a heap,
the fortified city a ruin;
the palace of aliens is a city no more,
it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
For you have been a refuge to the poor,
a refuge to the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
the song of the ruthless was stilled.
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the LORD has spoken.
It will be said on that day,
Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the LORD for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

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Isaiah rejoices in the deliverance that God gives to overcome the oppression of an enemy. The prophet imagines a day when God will destroy death and bring joy to all people.
What is your vision for our nation? For our planet?
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Psalm 23 Dominus regit me

The Holy One is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.

You make me lie down in green pastures *
and lead me beside still waters.

You revive my soul *
and guide me along right pathways for the sake of your Name.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of God for ever.

(St. Helena Psalter)

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What is your favorite phrase in this familiar psalm?
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Philippians 4:1-9

My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
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How might you incorporate Paul's teaching in your life?
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Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to the people in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
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Matthew likes to turn Jesus' stories into allegories that become commentaries on the current situation in Israel in Matthew's day. From that perspective, what does this story tell us about the early church and its conflicts with Jewish authorities and the allusion to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE?

What do you think is the significance of the wedding robe for Matthew?

How might Jesus have told this story originally? (you might compare Luke's version, Lk. 14:15-24)
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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 Divina (http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html)