Last Sunday After Pentecost

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
For Christ the King Sunday
Proper 29, Year B
November 22, 2009

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). We'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
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Scriptures

2 Samuel 23:1-7
Psalm 132:1-13,
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37
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2 Samuel 23:1-7

These are the last words of David:

The oracle of David, son of Jesse,
the oracle of the man whom God exalted,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
the favorite of the Strong One of Israel:
The spirit of the LORD speaks through me,
his word is upon my tongue.
The God of Israel has spoken,
the Rock of Israel has said to me: One who rules over people justly,
ruling in the fear of God,
is like the light of morning,
like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,
gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.
Is not my house like this with God?
For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things and secure.
Will he not cause to prosper
all my help and my desire?
But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away;
for they cannot be picked up with the hand;
to touch them one uses an iron bar
or the shaft of a spear.
And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot.
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What would be the qualities of "one who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God"?
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Psalm 132:1-13

O God, remember David *
and all the hardships he endured;

How he swore an oath to God *
and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

"I will not come under the roof of my house, *
nor climb up into my bed;

I will not allow my eyes to sleep, *
nor let my eyelids slumber;

Until I find a place for you, O God, *
a dwelling for you, O Mighty One of Jacob."

"The ark! We heard it was in Ephratah; *
we found it in the fields of Jearim.

Let us go to God's dwelling place; *
let us fall upon our knees before God's footstool."
Arise, O God, into your resting-place, *
you and the ark of your strength.

Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; *
let your faithful people sing with joy.

For your servant David's sake, *
do not turn away the face of your Anointed.

You have sworn an oath to David; *
in truth, you will not break it:

"A son, the fruit of your body, *
will I set upon your throne.

St. Helena Psalter

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David's first priority, the psalmist says, was to provide for the presence of God among the people and to attend to worship. How might we reflect on our own priorities? What is most important to you?
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Revelation 1:4b-8

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
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The vision imagines Jesus returning to the earth. It describes Jesus as the one who "loves us" and who has "freed us from our sins" and has "made us to be a kingdom, priests serving ...God... forever."
How have you incorporated into your life Jesus' love for you, his liberating forgiveness, and his empowerment of you?
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John 18:33-37

Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
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What is the truth about the nature of Jesus' kingship and rule?
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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)