Scriptures and Reflection Questions for March 6

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year A
March 6, 2011
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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.
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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
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The Lessons

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

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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.

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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?
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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."

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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?
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On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought
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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 out our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org