Sunday Scriptures and Reflection Questions for October 24

Scriptures and Reflection Questions

21st Sunday After Pentecost

Proper 24, Year C; Track 1

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
October 17th, 2010

 

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

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Collect
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.

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The Lessons    Joel 2:23-32 Psalm 65 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14 ________________________   Joel 2:23-32  O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God;      for he has given the early rain for your vindication,      he has poured down for you abundant rain,      the early and the later rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain,      the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten,      the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,      my great army, which I sent against you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,      and praise the name of the LORD your God,      who has dealt wondrously with you.      And my people shall never again be put to shame.   You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,      and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other.   And my people shall never again be put to shame.   Then afterward      I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;      your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,      your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves,      in those days, I will pour out my spirit.   I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.________________ Joel has a vision of an abundant new world, with food and security for all.  God's Spirit dwells with God's people.  He imagines God saving all who call upon the Divine.  What does this vision mean to you? _________________________________________________________ Psalm 65    You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; *      to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem. To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, *      because of their transgressions. Our sins are stronger than we are, *      but you will blot them out. Happy are they whom you choose and draw to your courts to dwell there; *      they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house, by the holiness of your temple. Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of our salvation, *      O Hope of all the ends of the earth and of the seas that are far away. You make fast the mountains by your power; *      they are girded about with might. You still the roaring of the seas, *      the roaring of their waves, and the clamor of the peoples. Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; *      you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy. You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it very plenteous; *      the river of God is full of water. You prepare the grain, *      for so you provide for the earth. You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; *      with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase. You crown the year with your goodness, *      and your paths overflow with plenty. May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, *      and the hills be clothed with joy. May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,  and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; *      let them shout for joy and sing.   St. Helena Psalter _______________ From the seat of worship, the people receive forgiveness and blessing.  God extends that blessing to the whole earth.  How can you use your worship to extend God's blessing to you and to the whole earth? ________________________________________________________ 2 Timothy 4:6-8-8:16-18   I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. _______________ How have you known God to rescue you? ________________________________________________________   Luke 18:9-14 Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."_______________ What does this story mean to you?  When do you see yourself as the Pharisee?  When do you see yourself as the tax collector? ________________________________________________________   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)

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Lowell

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. 

Check our website:  www.stpaulsfay.org