Scripture and Reflection Questions for February 20
Scriptures and Reflection Questions
7th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A
February 20, 2011
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.
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.
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?
________________________________________________________
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/
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/
posted by Lowell @ 10:51 AM
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