Scriptures and Reflection Questions for Sunday, Aug. 14

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost;
Proper 15, Year A, Track 1
August 14, 2011
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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.

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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 this link:
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The Lessons

Genesis 45:1-15
Psalm 133
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15: 21-28

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Genesis 45:1-15

Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he
 cried out, "Send everyone away from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph
made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard
it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph.
Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were
they at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come closer to me." And they came closer. He
said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed,
or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to
preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are
five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me
before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many
survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father
to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry
and go up to my father and say to him, `Thus says your son Joseph, God has made
me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land
of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children,
as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you
there-- since there are five more years of famine to come-- so that you and your
 household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.' And now your eyes
and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you.
You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have
 seen. Hurry and bring my father down here." Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's
neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers
 and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

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Would you have acted as Joseph did?____________________________________________

Psalm 133

Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
   when kindred live together in unity!

It is like fine oil upon the head *
   that runs down upon the beard,

Upon the beard of Aaron, *
   and runs down upon the collar of his robe.

It is like the dew of Hermon *
   that falls upon the hills of Zion.

For there has God ordained the blessing: *
   life for evermore.

                          The Saint Helena Psalter
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Think of times and places when you have experienced the kind of community that this
first verse praises.  What were some of the qualities of that community?
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Romans 11:1-2a,29-32

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite,
 a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected
his people whom he foreknew.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient
to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now
been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive
mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to
all.

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The Jews have rejected Jesus.  Yet Paul cannot imagine God's rejecting them.
What does this passage mean to you?

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Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus left Gennesaret and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then
 a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on
me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer
her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she
keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the
 house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He
answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."
 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters'
table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for
 you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

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Jesus leaves Israel.  The Canaanites were Israel's ancient enemies.  In Nazareth,
they would have been called "dogs."

Who does our culture regard as "dogs"?
When you were younger, who were the "dogs"?  Has that changed?

What does this story say to 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