Scriptures and Reflection Questions for March 13

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
First Sunday in Lent, Year A
March 13, 2011
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Collect

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come
quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses
of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
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

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Psalm 32
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11

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Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep
it. And the Lord God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the
 garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for
in the day that you eat of it you shall die."

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had
 made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, `You shall not eat from any tree in the
garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in
the garden; but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in
 the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'" But the serpent
said to the woman, "You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your
 eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when
the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the
eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit
and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then
the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed
 fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

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Do you have any memories of suddenly coming into consciousness of something tragic
or broken?

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Psalm 32  Beati quorum

Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven *
   and whose sin is put away!

Happy are they to whom God imputes no guilt *
   and in whose spirit there is no guile!
 
While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
   because of my groaning all day long.

For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
   my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you *
   and did not conceal my guilt.

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to God." *
   Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
 
Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; *
   when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.

You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; *
   you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; *
   I will guide you with my eye.

Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding, *
   who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you."

Great are the tribulations of the wicked, *
   but mercy embraces those who trust in the Most High.

Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in God; *
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

                 The Saint Helena Psalter

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How would God instruct you to confess and know your forgiveness?

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Romans 5:12-19

As sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death
spread to all because all have sinned-- sin was indeed in the world before the law,
but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from
Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam,
who is a type of the one who was to come.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one
 man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the
 grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is
 not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass
brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.
If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one,
much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift
 of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act
of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one
 man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the
many will be made righteous.

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Some have argued that this passage proclaims universal victory for Christ and universal
salvation for humanity.  What do you think?

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Matthew 4:1-11

After Jesus was baptized, he was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was
famished. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command
these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written,

'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of
God.'"

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,
saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear
you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms
of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you,
 if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan!
for it is written,

'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

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If you were rewriting this story for yourself, what three temptations would threaten
you?
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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
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