Scriptures and Reflection Questions for May 20

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Easter 7, Year B
May 20, 2012
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Collect

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great
 triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your
Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ
 has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in
 glory everlasting. 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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Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19

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Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about
one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled,
which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide
for those who arrested Jesus-- for he was numbered among us and was allotted his
 share in this ministry. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the
time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of
 John until the day when he was taken up from us-- one of these must become a witness
with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who
 was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know
everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place
in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own
place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added
to the eleven apostles.

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When have you been chosen?  What did that feel like?  What happened?

When have you not been chosen?  What did that feel like?  What happened?

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Psalm 1

Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
     nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!

Their delight is in the law of the Holy One, *
     and they meditate on that law day and night.

They are like trees planted by streams of water,
     bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
     everything they do shall prosper.

It is not so with the wicked; *
     they are like chaff which the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
     nor the sinner in the council of the righteous;

For the Holy One knows the way of the righteous, *
     but the way of the wicked is doomed.

                                                     The Saint Helena Psalter
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How would your describe your own roots?  In what are you planted?  What is your
fruit?

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1 John 5:9-13

If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the
testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son
of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have
made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning
his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in
his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does
 not have life.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you
may know that you have eternal life.

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What does it mean to you to have life in the Son?

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John 17:6-19

Looking up to heaven, Jesus prayed, "I have made your name known to those whom you
gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have
kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for
 the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them
 and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf
of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours
 are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world,
but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in
your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While
I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded
 them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that
the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these
things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I
have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong
to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take
them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do
not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in
the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent
them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may
be sanctified in truth."

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How do you experience God's protection in your life?

How do you experience Christ's joy in your life?

How do you experience the Holy Spirit's sanctification in truth in your life?

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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