Scriptures and Reflection Questions for June 6

Proper 5, Year C -- Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Track 1
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

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.

Collect
O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lessons

1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24)
Psalm 146
Galatians 1:11-24
Luke 7:11-17

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1 Kings 17:8-24
The word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth." She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

After this, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house at Zarephath, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!" But he said to her, "Give me your son." He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?" Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again." The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, "See, your son is alive." So the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth."
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Imagine the trust that it took for the widow to make a cake for Elijah before making something for herself and her son when she did not have enough for her needs.  When have you risked something substantial in order to do something for another?
When has something you thought you had lost been restored to you?

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Psalm 146  

Alleluia! Praise God, O my soul! *
     I will praise God as long as I live;

     I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
     for there is no help in them.

When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
     and in that day their thoughts perish.

Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help, *
     whose hope is in their God;

Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
     whose promise abides for ever;

Who gives justice to those who are oppressed *
     and food to those who hunger.

God sets the prisoners free and opens the eyes of the blind; *
     God lifts up those who are bowed down;

The Most High loves the righteous; the Most High cares for the stranger; *
     God sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked.

God shall reign for ever, *
     your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Alleluia!
 

St. Helena Psalter

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How different might this psalm sound to someone who is poor our outcast than for someone who has a comfortable life?
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Galatians 1:11-24 

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God because of me.

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Paul claims his gospel comes from a revelation rather than from being taught by the disciples in Jerusalem.  What in your faith comes out of your own experience and intuition?  What part of your faith have you received from others?

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Luke 7:11-17

Soon after healing the centurion's slave, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

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Is there a part of your life that seems dead?  What might happen if Jesus touched this part of your life and restored it to life?

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for May 30

Trinity Sunday, Year C

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

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.

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The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lessons

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15

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Proverbs 8:1-4,22-31

Does not wisdom call,
     and does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights, beside the way,
     at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside the gates in front of the town,
     at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
"To you, O people, I call,
     and my cry is to all that live.
The LORD created me at the beginning of his work,
     the first of his acts of long ago.
Ages ago I was set up,
     at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
     when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
     before the hills, I was brought forth--
when he had not yet made earth and fields,
     or the world's first bits of soil.
When he established the heavens, I was there,
     when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
     when he established the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
     so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
     then I was beside him, like a master worker;
and I was daily his delight,
     rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
     and delighting in the human race."
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What does this passage say about Wisdom?
Why so you think this passage chosen for Trinity Sunday?_________________________________________________________


Psalm 8  

O God our Governor, *
     how exalted is your Name in all the world!

Out of the mouths of infants and children, *
     your majesty is praised above the heavens.

You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
     to quell the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
     the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,

What are we that you should be mindful of us, *
     mere mortals that you should seek us out?

You have made us but little lower than the angels; *
     you adorn us with glory and honor;

You give us mastery over the works of your hands; *
     you put all things under our feet:

All sheep and oxen, *
     even the wild beasts of the field,

The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
     and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.

O God, our Governor, *
    how exalted is your Name in all the world!
 

St. Helena Psalter

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How does the Psalmist imagine the hierarchy of the universe?
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Romans 5:1-5 

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 

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Imagine a scenario on your own life that traces this pattern from suffering to God's love poured into us through the Spirit?

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John 16:12-15

Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

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How does the Spirit guide us into the truth?
What is the relationship between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit?

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Scriptures and Reflection Questions for May 23

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

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.

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The Collect

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

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The Lessons

Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:25-35, 37
Romans 8:14-17
John 14:8-17, (25-27)

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Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

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When have you seen cultural differences transcended by the inspiration of the Spirit?  When have you heard the Spirit spoken in another language, context or tradition?
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Psalm 104:25-35, 37  

O Holy One, how manifold are your works; *

in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number, *

creatures both small and great.

There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan, *

which you have made for the sport of it.

All of them look to you *

to give them their food in due season.

You give it to them; they gather it; *

you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

You hide your face, and they are terrified; *

you take away their breath,
and they die and return to their dust.

You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *

and so you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of God endure for ever; *

may the Holy One rejoice in all creation.

God looks at the earth and it trembles; *

God touches the mountains and they smoke.

I will sing to God as long as I live; *

I will praise my God while I have my being.

May these words of mine find favor; *

I will rejoice in the Holy One.

__Alleluia!.

 

St. Helena Psalter

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What wonders inspire you to see the glory of God? ________________________________________________________

 

Romans 8:14-17 

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ -- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

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How do you speak to God as your beloved parent?
What does it fell like to you to be God's beloved child?

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John 14:8-17, 25-27

Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

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What has the Spirit taught you or led you into?
How have you experienced the Peace of Christ? 

Visit our web site: http://www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for May 16

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

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.

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CollectO God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

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The Lessons

Acts 16:16-34
Psalm 68:1-20
Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20
John 17:20-26

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Acts 16:16-34

With Paul and Silas, we came to Philippi in Macedonia, a Roman colony, and, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
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When Paul's actions compromise the businesses of some locals, he gets charged and punished on religious grounds.  Do you ever see similar things in our culture?
What do you find most compelling about the story of the jail and the jailer?

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Psalm 68:1-20  

Arise, O God, and let your enemies be scattered; *
     let those who hate you flee before you.

Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; *
     as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at your presence, O God.

But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before you; *
     let them also be merry and joyful.

We sing praises to your holy Name; we exalt the One who rides upon the heavens; *
     yours is the Name in which we rejoice!

Guardian of orphans, defender of widows, *
     God, in your holy habitation!

You give the solitary a home and bring forth prisoners into freedom, *
     but the rebels shall live in dry places.

O God, when you went forth before your people, *
     when you marched through the wilderness,

The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain, at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *
     at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *
     you refreshed the land when it was weary.

Your people found their home in it; *
     in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.

You gave the word; *
     great was the company of women who bore the tidings:

"Rulers with their armies are fleeing away; *
     the women at home are dividing the spoils."

Though you lingered among the sheepfolds, *
     you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,
     whose feathers are like green gold.

When the Almighty scattered rulers, *
     it was like snow falling in Zalmon.

O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan! *
     O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!

Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountain, at the hill which God chose for a resting place? *
     Truly, our God will dwell there for ever.

Your chariots, O God, are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands; *
     you come in holiness from Sinai.

You have gone up on high and led captivity captive;
you have received gifts even from your enemies, *
     that you might dwell among them.

Blest are you, O God, day by day, *
     the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.

You are our God, the God of our salvation; *
     you are the one by whom we escape death.

 

St. Helena Psalter

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When have you felt delivered by divine help? ________________________________________________________

 

Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20 

At the end of the visions I, John, heard these words:

"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."
And let everyone who hears say, "Come."
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

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How is Jesus present to you?
How is Jesus absent to you?

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John 17:20-26


Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
 

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What does it mean for you to be in the Father and in Christ?  ...to be given the same glory as the Son?  ...to be completely one with God and with Jesus' disciples?

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for May 9

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.

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The Collect

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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 Lessons

Acts 16:9-15
Psalm 67
Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
John 14:23-29
or John 5:1-9

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Acts 16:9-15

During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.

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When have you followed a vision like Paul describes?  What happened?
How might you have told Lydia about your faith?  With whom have you shared your story of faith?  Whom might you visit with to tell about these things?_________________________________________________________


Psalm 67  

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

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Spend some time imagining the whole creation praising God. 
How can you articulate the praise of creation to the Creator?

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Revelation  21:10, 22-22:5 

In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day -- and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

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The city needs no temple or light or water or food, for all is provided by God.
When you think of this promised future, how does that motivate you in the present?  What would you want to do in the spirit of this vision?

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John 14:23-29

Jesus said to Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe."
 

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Is there anything left out if we simplify God's expectations with the single commandment to love?
Describe the peace that Christ gives us?
What has the Holy Spirit taught us since the time when this passage was written?