Scriptures and Reflection Questions for January 16

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
2nd Sunday after Epiphany, Year A
January 16, 2011

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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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Collect

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant
 that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance
of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and
 reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen

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The Lessons

Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-12
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42

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Isaiah 49:1-7

Listen to me, O coastlands,
   pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The LORD called me before I was born,
   while I was in my mother's womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
   in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
   in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, "You are my servant,
   Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
But I said, "I have labored in vain,
   I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the LORD,
   and my reward with my God."

And now the LORD says,
   who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
   and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the sight of the LORD,
   and my God has become my strength--
he says,
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
  to raise up the tribes of Jacob
  and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
  that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Thus says the LORD,
   the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
   the slave of rulers,
"Kings shall see and stand up,
   princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
   the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

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The prophet knows himself to be God's servant, but his work has been frustrating
 -- "I have labored in vain..."  Yet God expands his call.  Not only will he "raise
up the tribes of Jacob" but he will also be "a light to the nations" so that God's
"salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

When have you experienced frustration?

If your work and mission were to expand, what might that be?

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Psalm 40:1-12

I waited patiently for you, O God; *
   you stooped to me and heard my cry.

You lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *
   you set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.

You put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; *
   many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust in you.

Happy are they who trust in you; *
they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.

Great things are they that you have done, O God, how great your wonders and your
 plans for us; *
   there is none who can be compared with you.

Oh, that I could make them known and tell them, *
   but they are more than I can count.

In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *
   (you have given me ears to hear you);

Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
   and so I said, "Behold, I come.

In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
   'I love to do your will, O my God; your law is deep in my heart.' "

I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *
   behold, I did not restrain my lips, and that, O God, you know.

Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness
and your deliverance; *
   I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the great congregation.

You are the Holy One; do not withhold your compassion from me; *
   let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever.

                                                  [The Saint Helena Psalter}

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Have you ever had your patience tried, and then found yourself lifted up?  What
happened?

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1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother
Sosthenes,

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

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

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been
 given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech
and knowledge of every kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened
among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the
revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that
you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him
you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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How might you feel if your congregation received this opening in a letter from Paul?
 How might Paul begin a letter to you?

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John 1:29-42

John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who
ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but I came
baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." And
John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained
on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water
 said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes
with the Holy Spirit.' And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the
Son of God."

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched
Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" The two disciples
heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following,
he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated
means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came
and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about
four o'clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed
him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said
 to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). He brought
Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are
to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).

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When have you see something that seemed like the manifestation of the Holy Spirit?
 How has that influenced your life?

Have you ever invited someone to "come and see"?  What happened?

Has anyone else ever invited you to "come and see"?  What happened?