Scriptures and Readings for Sunday, March 25
Scriptures and Reflection Questions
The Feast of the Annunciation, Year B
March 25, 2012
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Collect
Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation
of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross
and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year B
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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:
We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
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Isaiah 7:10-14
Canticle 15
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38
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Isaiah 7:10-14
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be
deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not
put the LORD to the test. Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it
too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord
himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear
a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
___________
Isaiah speaks words of hope in a desperate situation.
When have you been desperate and chosen hope instead of despair?
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Canticle 15 The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
____________
Mary is a peasant, a woman. Listen to the overtones of power, the political and
economic pronouncements of her words. Where in the world do you see the weak or
the poor making claims of political or economic power?
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Hebrews 10:4-10
It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently,
when Christ came into the world, he said,
"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body you have prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, 'See, God, I have come to do your will, O God'
(in the scroll of the book it is written of me)."
When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and
offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to
the law), then he added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first
in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
____________
The writer of Hebrews sees the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as transcending the
Biblical system of Temple sacrifice. In what way is Jesus' sacrifice important
to you?
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Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called
Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one!
The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what
sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the
Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor
David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will
be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The
angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be
called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived
a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing
will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
____________
Mary is an icon of trust and obedience. When have you trusted and been courageously
obedient because you sensed it was God's will?
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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.
posted by Lowell @ 5:44 PM
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