Scriptures for February 5, Epiphany 5

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
5th Sun. after the Epiphany, Year B
February 5th, 2011~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Collect

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that
abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
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:
www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
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Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-12, 21c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
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Isaiah 40:21-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
       Has it not been told you from the beginning?
       Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
       and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
       and spreads them like a tent to live in;
who brings princes to naught,
       and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.
Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
       scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon them, and they wither,
       and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
To whom then will you compare me,
       or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high and see:
       Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
       calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
       mighty in power,
       not one is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob,
       and speak, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD,
       and my right is disregarded by my God"?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
       his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
       and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
       and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
       they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
       they shall walk and not faint.

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The prophet exalts God and warns those who might imagine God is irrelevant to them.

How do you "wait for the Lord" and renew your strength?
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Psalm 147:1-12,21c

Alleluia! How good it is to sing praises to you, O God; *
     how pleasant it is to honor you with praise!

For you rebuild Jerusalem *
     and gather the exiles of Israel.

You heal the brokenhearted *
     and bind up their wounds.

You count the number of the stars *
     and call them all by their names.

Great are you and mighty in power; *
     there is no limit to your wisdom.

You lift up the lowly, *
     but cast the wicked to the ground.

We sing to you, Most High, with thanksgiving; *
     we make music to you upon the harp,

For you cover the heavens with clouds *
     and prepare rain for the earth;

You make grass to grow upon the mountains *
     and green plants to serve humankind.

You provide food for flocks and herds *
     and for the young ravens when they cry.

You are not impressed by the might of a horse; *
      you have no pleasure in human strength;

But you have pleasure in those who fear you, *
      in those who await your gracious favor. Alleluia!

                               St. Helena Psalter
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How might you sing this psalm to apply to our day, our political and economic realities?
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1 Corinthians 9:16-23

If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation
is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of
my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.
What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel
 free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so
that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.
To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under
the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became
as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's
law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that
I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all
means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in
its blessings.

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Paul speaks of his adaptations for the sake of sharing the Good News.

How do you adapt to the needs of others in order to be caring or compassionate?
 ...to share, to serve, or to lead?______________________________________________________________


Mark 1:29-39

Jesus left the synagogue at Capernaum, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew,
with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they
 told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.
 Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with
demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were
sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the
demons to speak, because they knew him.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted
place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they
found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let
us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also;
for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming
the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

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A busy day in Jesus' life.  Note how he finds time to pray and refresh.

How does Jesus keep the main thing the main thing?
How do you find balance?  ...time to reflect, rest, and pray.
How do you set boundaries so you can make the main thing the main thing?
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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.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org