Scriptures and Reflecton Questions for Sunday, July 31

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost;
Proper 13, Year A, Track 1
July 31, 2011~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Collect
Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it
cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your
goodness; 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

Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 17: 1-7, 16
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21

_____________________________________________

Genesis 32:22-31

The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven
children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across
the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man
 wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against
Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as
he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob
said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is
your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called
Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed."
Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you
ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying,
"For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." The sun rose upon
him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

__________

Because of envy and conflict, Jacob has fled Laban's house under a suspicious "peace."
 Now he returns home to meet his brother Esau, who swore to kill Jacob for past
wrongs.  It may be that Esau will kill him and destroy his family and belongings.

The night before he is to meet Esau, Jacob struggles -- wrestles with God -- in
the darkness.  When have you wrestled in the darkness?  What happened?

What does Jacob's story teach you?

_____________________________________________

Psalm 17:1-7,16

Hear my plea of innocence, O God; give heed to my cry; *
     listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.

Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *
     let your eyes be fixed on justice.

Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *
     melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.

I give no offense with my mouth as others do; *
     I have heeded the words of your lips.

My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; *
     in your paths my feet shall not stumble.

I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; *
     incline your ear to me and hear my words.

Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, *
     O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand
from those who rise up against them.

But at my vindication I shall see your face; *
     when I awake, I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.

                                  The Saint Helena Psalter
___________

Have you ever professed your innocence before God and asked for vindication?
If so, what happened?
_____________________________________________

Romans 9:1-5

I am speaking the truth in Christ -- I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by
the Holy Spirit -- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I
could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my
own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them
belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship,
and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the
 flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

____________

Paul speaks of his anguish for his Jewish relatives who oppose and persecute him
 and the cause of Christ.  He is willing to be accursed for their sake.

How might you adopt Paul's attitude toward someone or some group that you feel conflict
with?

________________________________________

Matthew 14:13-21

Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard
it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great
crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening,
 the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is
now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food
for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something
to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And
he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the
grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed
and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them
to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over
of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand
men, besides women and children.

______________

What does this story tell you about Jesus?

What does this story tell you about your calling and ministry?

What does this story tell you about what you need to respond to your calling and
 ministry?

_____________________________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 July 24

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost;
Proper 12, Year A, Track 1
July 24, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Collect

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing
is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and
guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal;
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

Genesis 29:15-28
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

_____________________________________________

Genesis 29:15-28

Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me
for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" Now Laban had two daughters; the
name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes
were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel; so he said,
"I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." Laban said, "It
 is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man;
stay with me." So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but
a few days because of the love he had for her.
 
Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time
is completed." So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made
a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob;
and he went in to her. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her
maid.) When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you
have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived
 me?" Laban said, "This is not done in our country-- giving the younger before the
firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in
 return for serving me another seven years." Jacob did so, and completed her week;
then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.

__________

What does this story tell us about Jacob?

_____________________________________________

Psalm 105:1-11, 45b

We give you thanks, O God, and call upon your Name; *
   we make known your deeds among the peoples.

We sing to you; we sing your praise *
   and speak of all your marvelous works.

We glory in your holy Name; *
   let the hearts of those who seek you rejoice.

We search for you and your strength; *
   we continually seek your face.

We remember the marvels you have done, *
   the wonders and the judgments of your mouth.

O offspring of Abraham, your servant, *
   O children of Jacob, the chosen ones.

You are our God indeed; *
   your judgments prevail in all the world.

You have always been mindful of your covenant, *
   the promise you made for a thousand generations:

The covenant you made with Abraham, *
   the oath that you swore to Isaac,

Which you established as a statute for Jacob, *
   an everlasting covenant for Israel,

Saying, "To them will I give the land of Canaan *
   to be their allotted inheritance." Alleluia!

                                    The Saint Helena Psalter
___________

How do you praise God and seek God's face?
_____________________________________________

Romans 8:26-39

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
 but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches
the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for
the saints according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called
according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed
to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large
family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he
also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not
 with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's
elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died,
 yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for
 us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

"For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For
I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else
in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
our Lord.

____________

What problem or issue or anxiety do you imagine Paul is trying to address with these
words?
_________________________________________


Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Jesus put before the crowds another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard
seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds,
but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the
birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman
took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and
hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding
one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught
fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the
 good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The
angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into
the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore
every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of
a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

______________

What does each of these brief parables teach you?

_____________________________________________

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 Sunday, July 17

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 11, Year A, Track 1
July 17, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Collect

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask
 and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give
us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we
 cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
 and reigns with you and 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

Genesis 28:10-19a
Psalm 139: 1-11, 22-23
Romans 8:12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

_____________________________________________

Genesis 28:10-19a

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed
there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place,
he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was
a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of
God were ascending and descending on it. And the LORD stood beside him and said,
 "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on
which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall
 be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the
east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall
be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you
wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you
until I have done what I have promised you." Then Jacob woke from his sleep and
said, "Surely the LORD is in this place-- and I did not know it!" And he was afraid,
and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God,
and this is the gate of heaven."

So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under
his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that
place Bethel.

__________

When have you had a dream or vision that seemed meaningful to you?
What did you learn?

What did Jacob gain from this dream?

_____________________________________________

Psalm 139:1-11, 22-23

O God, you have searched me out and known me; *
     you know my sitting down and my rising up;
     you discern my thoughts from afar.

You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
     and are acquainted with all my ways.

Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
     but you, O God, know it altogether.

You press upon me behind and before *
     and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
     it is so high that I cannot attain to it.

Where can I go then from your Spirit; *
     where can I flee from your presence?

If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
     if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.

If I take the wings of the morning *
     and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there your hand will lead me *
     and your right hand hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, *
     and the light around me turn to night,"

Darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day; *
     darkness and light to you are both alike.

Search me out, O God, and know my heart; *
     try me and know my restless thoughts.

Look well whether there be any wickedness in me *
     and lead me in the way that is everlasting.

                              The Saint Helena Psalter
___________

How does it make you feel that God has searched us out and knows us?
How do you allow God's knowledge of you to lead you "in the way that is everlasting"?
_____________________________________________

Romans 8:12-25

Brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the
 flesh -- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the
Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to
fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba!
Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children
of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ --
 if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with
 the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing
 for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility,
not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the
creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom
of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning
in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have
the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption
of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For
 who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for
it with patience.
____________

What does it mean for you to cry "Abba! Father!"?
What do you long for?
_________________________________________

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

Jesus put before the crowd another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared
to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an
enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants
came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder
came and said to him, `Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then,
did these weeds come from?' He answered, `An enemy has done this.' The slaves said
to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he replied, `No; for in
 gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them
grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect
the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into
 my barn.'"

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him,
saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." He answered, "The
 one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good
seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,
and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and
the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
 so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they
will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will
throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of
 teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Let anyone with ears listen!"

______________

What is the meaning of the instruction forbidding the householder's slaves from
trying to remove the weeds?

Try reading this parable as a metaphor for your own mixed motives -- the wheat and
the weeds that exist within yourself.  What does this parable say to you?

_____________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to http://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 July 10

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Third Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 9, Year A, Track 1
July 3, 2011
___________________________

Collect
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the HOly Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

____________________________

The Lessons 

Genesis 25:19-34
Psalm 119:105-112

Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

______________________________

Genesis 25:19-34

These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, "If it is to be this way, why do I live?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said to her,

"Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the elder shall serve the younger."

When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!" (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright." Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

__________

Some commentators see this story as a metaphor for the conflicts between settled, agrarian cultures and wandering, nomadic cultures.

What competing cultures do you see in our society?  In our world?
What can this story teach us about them?

_______________________________________________

Psalm 119:105-112 

Your word is a lantern to my feet *
     and a light upon my path.

I have sworn and am determined *
     to keep your righteous judgments.

I am deeply troubled; *
     preserve my life, O God, according to your word.

Accept, O God, the willing tribute of my lips, *
     and teach me your judgments.

My life is always in my hand, *
     yet I do not forget your law.

The wicked have set a trap for me, *
     but I have not strayed from your commandments.

Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *
     truly, they are the joy of my heart.

I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *
     for ever and to the end.
                                                   The Saint Helena Psalter
___________

What principles help guide your path?
______________________________________________

Romans 8:1-11

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,  so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-- indeed it cannot,  and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.  But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

____________

 What does it mean to you to set your mind on the Spirit?

What does it mean to you to set your mind in the flesh? 

_______________________________________________

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!"

"Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

______________

 What parts of your life show the signs of seeds sown on fertile ground, bearing fruit?   

What parts of your life seem thorny?  ...shallow?  ...unstarted?

_______________________________________________ 

Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever