Scriptures and Reflection Questions for November 6

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
All Saints Sunday
Year A, Track 1
November 6, 2011 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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: Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections  

____________________________________

Collect

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
____________________________________

The Lessons 

Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12 
____________________________________

Revelation 7:9-17

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
 "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

"Amen!  Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!  Amen."

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? "I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows. " Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  

For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
__________

What about this vision of the heavenly multitudes appeals to you?
Does some of it bother or perplex you?
If you were to imagine the fullness of life in God's presence, how might you describe that?
______________________________________________

Psalm 34:1-10, 22 

I will bless God at all times, *
     and praise shall ever be in my mouth.

I will glory in the Holy One; *
     let the humble hear and rejoice.

Proclaim with me the greatness of God; *
     let us exalt God's Name together.

I sought, and God answered me *
     and delivered me out of all my terror.

Look upon the Most High and be radiant, *
     and let not your faces be ashamed.

I called in my affliction and God heard me *
      and saved me from all my troubles.

The angels encompass those who fear God, *
     and God will deliver them.

Taste and see that God is good; *
      happy are they who trust in the Most High!

Fear the Most High, you that are God's saints, *
      for those who fear God lack nothing.

The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
      but those who seek God lack nothing that is good.

O God, you will ransom the life of your servants, *
     and none will be punished who trust in you.

                                                       Saint Helena Psalter

_________

What part of this Psalm might become your own prayer?  
______________________________________

1 John 3:1-3
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

__________

What does it mean to you to be a child of God?
How do you live into that identity?
What does it mean to regard others as the children of God?
What does that mean to you?  How does that affect your relationship with others?   
__________________________________

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom 
of heaven. 

"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
_________

Another translation of "blessed" is "How happy..."  
How might you experience blessing and happiness within this vision and teaching of Jesus?
____________________________________________________
  

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html and follow the instructions.
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 October 30

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 26, Year A, Track 1
October 30, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

_____________________________________________

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

_____________________________________________

 

The Lessons  

 

Joshua 3:7-17

Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

Matthew 23:1-12

____________________________________

 

Joshua 3:7-17

 

The LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, `When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'" Joshua then said to the Israelites, "Draw near and hear the words of the LORD your God." Joshua said, "By this you shall know that among you is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites: the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan. So now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap."

 

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. 

__________

 

Like their exodus from Egypt, the people enter the promised land with a miraculous crossing of water.  How might you use this story as a metaphor for your own journey?  

______________________________________________

 

Psalm 107:1-7,33-37  

 

 

We give you thanks, O God, for you are good; *

     your mercy endures for ever.

 

Let all those whom you have redeemed proclaim *

     that you redeemed them from the hand of the foe.

 

You gathered them out of the lands; *

     from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

 

Some wandered in desert wastes; *

     they found no way to a city where they might dwell.

 

They were hungry and thirsty; *

     their spirits languished within them.

 

Then they cried to you in their trouble, *

     and you delivered them from their distress.

 

You put their feet on a straight path *

     to go to a city where they might dwell.

 

You changed deserts into pools of water *

     and dry land into water-springs.

 

You settled the hungry there, *

     and they founded a city to dwell in.

 

They sowed fields, and planted vineyards, *

     and brought in a fruitful harvest.

 

You blessed them, so that they increased greatly; *

     you did not let their herds decrease.

 

Yet when they were diminished and brought low, *

     through stress of adversity and sorrow,

 

(You pour contempt on princes *

     and make them wander in trackless wastes)

 

You lifted up the poor out of misery *

     and multiplied their families like flocks of sheep.

 

The upright will see this and rejoice, *

     but all wickedness will shut its mouth.

 

Whoever is wise will ponder these things, *

     and consider well your mercies, O God.

 

 

 

                                                       Saint Helena Psalter

_________

 

Where do you see wandering, deserts, and hunger in your own journey?

Where have you dwelt securely in a bountiful place?

How do you contribute to the work of lifting "the poor out of misery"?   

______________________________________

 

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

 

You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

 

We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers. 

 

 

__________

 

How do you interpret your work as holy labor?

How is God's word at work in you?   

__________________________________

 

Matthew 23:1-12

 

 

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father -- the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted."

_________

 

How do you practice leadership?  What does it mean to be a servant in your context?  

____________________________________________________ 

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html and follow the instructions.

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 October 23

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 25, Year A, Track 1
October 23, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

_____________________________________

The Lessons  

 

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Matthew 22:34-46   

_____________________________________

 

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

 

Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the LORD showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain -- that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees -- as far as Zoar. The LORD said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, `I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there." Then Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the LORD's command. He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.

 

Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the LORD had commanded Moses.

 

Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel. 

 

__________

 

Whom do you regard as a Moses-like hero for you?

What does it mean for Moses to see but not enter the Promised Land?

What might it mean to be known by God "face to face" as Moses was? 

______________________________________________

Psalm 90:1-6,13-17  

 

O God, you have been our refuge *

     from one generation to another.

 

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or the land and the earth were born, *

     from age to age you are God.

 

You turn us back to the dust and say, *

     "Go back, O child of earth."

 

Return, O God; how long will you tarry? *

     Be gracious to your servants.

 

Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *

     so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

 

Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *

     and the years in which we suffered adversity.

 

Show your servants your works *

    and your splendor to their children.

 

May the graciousness of our God be upon us; *

     prosper the work of our hands; prosper our handiwork.

 

                                                       Saint Helena Psalter

_________

 

How might you make this Psalm your own prayer?

Which verses speak for you?   

______________________________________

 

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

 

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

 

__________

 

Do you ever catch yourself acting in a way to please others rather than being yourself?

If so, analyze that.  What might Paul's words have to say to you?  

__________________________________

 

Matthew 22:34-46

 

 

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "`You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

 

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,

 

 `The Lord said to my Lord,

     "Sit at my right hand,

     until I put your enemies under your feet"'?

 

If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

_________

 

What if you lived your life entirely by the summary of the law that Jesus offers?

What problems, issues, limitations might that pose?

What clarity, vision and motivation might that offer? 

____________________________________________________ 

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for Oct. 16

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 24, Year A, Track 1
October 16, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations:
Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere
with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lessons

Exodus 33:12-23
Psalm 99
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22

______________________________________

Exodus 33:12-23

Moses said to the LORD, "See, you have said to me, `Bring up this people'; but you
have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, `I know you
by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' Now if I have found favor in
your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight.
Consider too that this nation is your people." He said, "My presence will go with
you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence will not go,
do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor
in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be
distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth."

The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have
found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." Moses said, "Show me your glory,
I pray." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim
before you the name, `The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious,
and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my
 face; for no one shall see me and live." And the LORD continued, "See, there is
 a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I
 will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I
have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my
 face shall not be seen."

__________

Moses is in intimate communion with God.  God speaks the Divine Name to Moses, and
allows Moses to see a portion of God's glory.

What does it mean to you to be in communion with God?  ...to see God's glory?

______________________________________________

Psalm 99

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.

                                       Saint Helena Psalter

_________

How do you express your praise of God?

______________________________________


1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly
remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness
of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God,
that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word
only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as
 you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you
became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received
 the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to
 all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded
forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in
God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people
of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how
you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his
Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath
that is coming.


__________

The opening of Paul's first letter to the church in Thessoliniki.
What does this passage say about Paul's relationship with this congregation?
How might Paul begin a letter to our congregation?

__________________________________


Matthew 22:15-22

The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their
disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are
sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to
no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think.
Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice,
said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used
 for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head
is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them,
 "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the
things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him
and went away.

________

What does Jesus' response say to you?
How do you regard paying taxes?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
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 October 9

Collect

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through 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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exodus 32:1-14

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." Aaron said to them, "Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord." They rose early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.

The Lord said to Moses, "Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" The Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation."

But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, `It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, `I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'" And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

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What golden calves do you have in your life?

What separates you from God's will?

What would it take for you to turn away from your own golden calf?

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Psalm 106:1-6,19-23

Alleluia! Give thanks, for the Holy One is good; *

God’s mercy endures for ever.

Who can declare the mighty acts of God *

or show forth rightful praise?

Happy are they who act with justice *

and always do what is right!

Remember me, O God, with the favor you have for your people, *

and visit me with your saving help;

That I may see the prosperity of your elect and be glad with

the gladness of your people, *
that I may glory with your inheritance.

Israel made a bull-calf at Horeb *

and worshiped a molten image;

And so they exchanged their Glory *

for the image of an ox that feeds on grass.

They forgot you, their Savior, *

who had done great things in Egypt,

Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham, *

and fearful things at the Red Sea.

So you would have destroyed them,

had not Moses your chosen stood before you in the breach, *
to turn away your wrath from consuming them.

Saint Helena Psalter

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Note how the psalmist interprets the story that we have as our first reading. The motivation for following God is gratefulness and praise.

What is your motivation for following God?

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Philippians 4:1-9

My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

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Read paragraph three carefully. How might you live in this way moment by moment?

What would it be like for you to incorporate Paul's instruction in the last paragraph also?

With that high ideal in mind, note that Paul writes this in the middle a crisis, a serious and personal conflict between two of his friends and co-workers. What does that tell you about how to approach crisis and conflict?

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Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to the people in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, `Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

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How might Jesus' audience have first heard and interpreted this parable?

How might the early church have heard and interpreted it?
What does it mean to you?
What about the last paragraph? (note: scholars don't know either)

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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.