Scriptures and Reflection Questions for November 6

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

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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.
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The Lessons 

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

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

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