Scriptures and Questions for Epiphany 5

Epiphany 5
February 8, 2009

The Scriptures
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-12, 21c1
Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39

Isaiah (40:21-31)
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to live in;
who brings princes to naught,
and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.
Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
To whom then will you compare me,
or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high and see:
Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
mighty in power,
not one is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God"?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

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What images come to your mind when you think about God's greatness -- the infinity and power of God? How do you describe God's vast might?How do you connect to that power for your life?
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Psalm (147:1-12, 21c) Laudate Dominum

Alleluia! How good it is to sing praises to you, O God; *
how pleasant it is to honor you with praise!

For you rebuild Jerusalem *
and gather the exiles of Israel.

You heal the brokenhearted *
and bind up their wounds.

You count the number of the stars *
and call them all by their names.

Great are you and mighty in power; *
there is no limit to your wisdom.

You lift up the lowly, *
but cast the wicked to the ground.

We sing to you, Most High, with thanksgiving; *
we make music to you upon the harp,

For you cover the heavens with clouds *
and prepare rain for the earth;

You make grass to grow upon the mountains *
and green plants to serve humankind.

You provide food for flocks and herds *
and for the young ravens when they cry.

You are not impressed by the might of a horse; *
you have no pleasure in human strength;

But you have pleasure in those who fear you, *
in those who await your gracious favor. Alleluia!

(St. Helena's Psalter)
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What stands out for you as you read this psalm?
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1 Corinthians (9:16-23)
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

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How do you describe your obligation before God?How do you connect with other people in order to serve them for Christ?
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Mark (1:29-39)
Jesus left the synagogue at Capernaum, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

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A day in the life of Jesus. What stands out to you about this snapshot of Jesus' life? How do you balance your work and your prayer?When do you have to set boundaries about your work or about the demands that might be placed on you?__________________________________________________________

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)Click here for "Praying the Scriptures with Lectio Divina"