Scriptures and Reflection Questions for March 6

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year A
March 6, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Collect

O God, who before the passion of your only?begotten Son revealed his glory upon
the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance,
may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory
to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year A
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lessons

Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 99
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
___________________________________

Exodus 24:12-18

The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will
give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written
for their instruction." So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went
up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until
 we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may
 go to them."

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory
of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the
seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory
 of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of
the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses
was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

______________________

Have you ever experienced a period of time when you seemed exceptionally alive or
particularly near to God?  What was that like?

How are you able to recall that time to the present?  What influence does it have
on your day-to-day life?
___________________________________

Psalm 99 Dominus regnavit

God reigns; let the people tremble; *
God is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake.

God is great in Zion *
and is high above all peoples.

Let them confess God's Name, which is great and awesome; *
God is the Holy One.

"O mighty Ruler, lover of justice, you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."

We proclaim your greatness, O God, and fall down before your footstool; *
you are the Holy One.

Moses and Aaron among your priests,
and Samuel among those who call upon your Name, *
they called upon you, and you answered them.

You spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept your testimonies and the decree that you gave them.

"O Holy God, you answered them indeed; *
you were a God who forgave them,
yet punished them for their evil deeds."

Proclaim the greatness of our God and worship on God's holy hill, *
for our God is the Holy One.

                                            The Saint Helena Psalter

__________

How do you think of God when you consider the greatness and vastness of the Divine?

___________________________________


2 Peter 1:16-21

We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and
 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For
he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to
him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well
pleased." We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him
 on the holy mountain.

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive
to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning
star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy
of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came
by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

___________

When have you experienced a deep understanding of truth that seemed to come from
 God?  With whom did you share that understanding?  How do you know when something
is true and when something is untrue?
___________________________________


Matthew 17:1-9

Six days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living
 God, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a
 high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face
 shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared
to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it
is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for
you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a
 bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son,
the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard
this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched
them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no
one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the
vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

_________________________________

For a moment, these three disciples see into a deeper reality.
When have you sensed you were in touch with something real and yet deeper than ordinary consciousness?
___________________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To subscribe or unsubscribe to our email list,
go to www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought
about the readings from the Daily Office.

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 out our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for February 27, 2011

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
8th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A
February 27, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Collect

Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear
nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve
us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life
may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested
to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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:
http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lessons

Isaiah 49:8-16a
Psalm 131
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34

__________________________________

Isaiah 49:8-16a

Thus says the LORD:

In a time of favor I have answered you,
  on a day of salvation I have helped you;
I have kept you and given you
  as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
  to apportion the desolate heritages;
saying to the prisoners, "Come out,"
  to those who are in darkness, "Show yourselves."
They shall feed along the ways,
  on all the bare heights shall be their pasture;
they shall not hunger or thirst,
  neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
  and by springs of water will guide them.
And I will turn all my mountains into a road,
  and my highways shall be raised up.
Lo, these shall come from far away,
  and lo, these from the north and from the west,
  and these from the land of Syene.
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
  break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the LORD has comforted his people,
  and will have compassion on his suffering ones.
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
  my Lord has forgotten me."
Can a woman forget her nursing child,
  or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
  yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.
________________________

At a time when the people think that they are forsaken and forgotten, the prophet
speaks for God's intention to establish the land for all, to feed and lead them
with loving compassion.
What would you ask God to do for our people at this time in our history?  How might
God's compassion be expressed in our nation?

__________________________________


Psalm 131

O God, I am not proud; *
I have no haughty looks.

I do not occupy myself with great matters, *
or with things that are too hard for me.

But I still my soul and make it quiet, like a child upon its mother's breast; *
my soul is quieted within me.

O Israel, wait upon God, *
from this time forth for evermore.

                                           The Saint Helena Psalter

__________

Be still and quiet, waiting upon God, like a child upon its mother's breast.  Let
yourself be this way for 10 or 20 minutes.  Then observe.  How do you feel?

__________________________________

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries.
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me
 it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court.
I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am
not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce
judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things
now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one
will receive commendation from God.

___________

What if you gave up judging yourself?  Just do what you need to do, and leave the
judging to God.  How might that ease your burden?
__________________________________

Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said,

"No  one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and  love the
other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You  cannot serve God and
 wealth.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you
will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food,
and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow
nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you
 not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to
your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in
all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass
 of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he
not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying,
`What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear?' For it is the
Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows
that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

___________

What do you worry about?  Why?  How might Jesus' words bring less anxiety to your
life?

What role does money play in your life?

__________________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to our Morning Reflection subscription page.

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought
about the readings from the Daily Office.

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 out our website:  www.stpaulsfay.org

Scripture and Reflection Questions for February 20

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
7th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A
February 20, 2011

________________________________________
Collect

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send
your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the
 true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted
dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

_______________________________________

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.

_________________________________________________________
 

The Lessons

Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18
Psalm 119:33-40
1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23
Matthew 5:38-48

_________________________________________________________

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18

Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall
 be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of
your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard
bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the
 poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.

You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another.
And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am
 the LORD.

You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep
 for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. You shall not revile the deaf
or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.

You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or
 defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go
around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of
your neighbor: I am the LORD.

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor,
or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge
against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the
LORD.

________________________

How might these words be practiced in our society?
What would need to be changed or reformed to follow the spirit of these laws?

_____________________________________________


Psalm 119:33-40

Teach me, O God, the way of your statutes, *
and I shall keep it to the end.

Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *
I shall keep it with all my heart.

Make me go in the path of your commandments, *
for that is my desire.

Incline my heart to your decrees *
and not to unjust gain.

Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *
give me life in your ways.

Fulfill your promise to your servant, *
which you make to those who fear you.

Turn away the reproach which I dread, *
because your judgments are good.

Behold, I long for your commandments; *
in your righteousness preserve my life.

                                            The Saint Helena Psalter

__________

The psalmist loves God's statutes and commandments, because in them he discovers
 God's will.

How would you compose a psalm in praise of God's will that speaks of your commitment
and passion to follow God's will?

______________________________________


1 Corinthians 310-11, 16-23

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid
a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with
care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that
has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If
anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is
holy, and you are that temple.

Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should
become fools so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness
with God. For it is written,

"He catches the wise in their craftiness,"

and again,

"The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,

that they are futile."

So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul
or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--
all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

___________

"You are God's temple...  all belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ
belongs to God."  How does this become real for you?
_____________________________________



Matthew 5:38-48

Jesus said,

"You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But
I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right
cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give
your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second
mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to
borrow from you.

"You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that
you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil
and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if
you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors
do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you
doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore,
as your heavenly Father is perfect."

___________

How might your life be different if you embraced these words?

When he lectured here, Marcus Borg argued that a truer translation of the last sentence
would be, "Be compassionate, therefore, as your heavenly Father is compassionate."
 How might that change your reading of the verse?

________________________________________________________
 

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to  www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought
about the readings from the Daily Office.

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/

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for Feb. 13

6th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A

February 13, 2011

 

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

Year A

_____________

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

_______________

Collect 

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

______________

 

The Lessons  

Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20

Psalm 119:1-8

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Matthew 5:21-37

_________________________________________________________

Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20

If you choose, you can keep the commandments,

    and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.

He has placed before you fire and water;

    stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.

Before each person are life and death,

    and whichever one chooses will be given.

For great is the wisdom of the Lord;

    he is mighty in power and sees everything;

his eyes are on those who fear him,

    and he knows every human action.

He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,

    and he has not given anyone permission to sin.

________________________

How do you choose when you find yourself tempted to betray your values?  What helps you choose wisely and well?   

_____________________________________________

Psalm 119:1-8  

Happy are they whose way is blameless, *

     who walk in your law, O God!

Happy are they who observe your decrees *

     and seek you with all their hearts!

Who never do any wrong, *

     but always walk in your ways.

You laid down your commandments, *

     that we should fully keep them.

Oh, that my ways were made so direct *

     that I might keep your statutes!

Then I should not be put to shame, *

     when I regard all your commandments.

I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *

     when I have learned your righteous judgments.

I will keep your statutes; *

     do not utterly forsake me.

The Saint Helena Psalter  

__________

 

How do you know yourself to be in a right relationship with God? 

______________________________________

  

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

  

Brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," are you not merely human?

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building.

___________

  

How might Paul's words impact us today?  ...in the Church?  ...in the community?  ...in the nation?  ...in the world?
_____________________________________

 

Matthew 5:21-37

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not murder'; and `whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, `You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.  

"You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

__________

 Jesus radicalizes the laws and statutes of the ancient scriptures.  To his hearers, his words would seem to make it impossible to follow the law and know that you are righteous.  Why is Jesus saying this?  What does Jesus intend to offer in the place of following good laws of behavior? 

 ___________________________  

 

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