Scriptures and Reflection Questions for July 24

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost;
Proper 12, Year A, Track 1
July 24, 2011
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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.
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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 29:15-28
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

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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.

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What does this story tell us about Jacob?

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

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

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What does each of these brief parables teach you?

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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