Sunday Scriptures and Reflection Questions for December 19

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
4 Advent, Year A
December 19, 2010
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Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year A
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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:
www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
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The Collect

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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The Lessons

Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25
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Isaiah 7:10-16

The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep
as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the
Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little
for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself
 will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son,
 and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows
how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse
the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will
be deserted."

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The context:  King Ahaz is threatened by an armed rebellion from the two kings of
Israel and Aram.  For protection, Ahaz wants an alliance with Egypt.  Isaiah counsels
Ahaz to trust God, not Egypt.  Isaiah says that this threat will be over within
the time it takes for a child to be weaned and take parental instruction.  The child's
name means "God is with us."  (The child is probably Isaiah's own child.)

What do you learn from this story?

When the Septuagint (the Hebrew Bible in Greek) translated the word for "young woman"
as "virgin," this passage either inspired the stories of the Virgin Birth of Jesus
or were the proof texts for the early church's story of Jesus' uniqueness.

What do you learn from that story?

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Psalm 146:4-9

Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.

In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.

Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

O God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your people?

You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.

You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

Let your hand be upon those at your right hand, *
those whom you have made so strong for yourself.

So we may never turn away from you, *
give us life, that we may call upon your Name.

Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

The Saint Helena Psalter

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Under what circumstances might this psalm have been written?

Under what circumstances might it be spoken and prayed today?

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Romans 1:1-7

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be  an apostle, set apart for the gospel
of God, which he promised  beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
the gospel  concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
 and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of  holiness
by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through  whom we have received
grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience  of faith among all the Gentiles
for the sake of his name, including  yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus
Christ,

To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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This is the opening of Paul's letter to the church in Rome, an important church
which he had not visited.  Why did Paul begin his letter this way?  What was important
for him to communicate to them?

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Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary
had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be
with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling
to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when
he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and
said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the
 child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are
to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place
to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,"

which means, "God is with us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel
 of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations
with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

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When have your dreams helped guide you?

What does the story of the Virgin Birth mean to you?  Is it a metaphor to you or
 is an historical claim?  How is that important to you?