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17 Pentecost;
Proper 18, Year A
September 7, 2008 Episcopal
Revised Common Lectionary 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). I've written some instructions on how to use
Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link: Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections – http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html ___________________________________________________________
The Collect
Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the
proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
| The Scriptures
Ezekiel
33:7-11
Psalm 119:33-40
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20
Ezekiel 33:7-11
You, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give
them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn
the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But
if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity,
but you will have saved your life.
Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions
and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?" Say to them, As I live, says the
Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn
back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
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How do you require accountability? For yourself? For others?
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Psalm 119:33-40 Legem pone
Teach me, O God, the way of your statutes, *
and I shall keep
it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; * I shall keep it with all my heart.
Make me go in the path of your commandments, * for that is my desire. Incline
my heart to your decrees *
and not to unjust gain.
Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *
give me life in your
ways. Fulfill your promise to your servant, * which you make to those who fear you.
Turn away the reproach which I dread, * because your judgments are good. Behold,
I long for your commandments; *
in your righteousness preserve my life.
(St. Helena Psalter)
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Let this
portion of psalm be your personal prayer to God.
What comes to your mind as you think of these words in the context of
your life?
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Romans 13:8-14
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The
commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and
any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor;
therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Besides this,
you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when
we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor
of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not
in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
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Try to live today with the one commandment at the forefront of your consciousness: "love
one another."
At the end of the day, reflect on what happened.
__________________________________________________________ Matthew 18:15-20
Jesus said, "If another member of the church sins
against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that
one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence
of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to
listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two
of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered
in my name, I am there among them."
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What do you think of this process for reconciling conflict?
(Note:
The condition of being "as a Gentile and a tax collector" would not necessarily mean being expelled from the congregation,
since Gentiles and tax collectors were welcomed into the fellowship of Christ and Christ's church.) |
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For a way to Pray with these scriptures,
go to the following link for instructions
about how to use Lectio Divina with the Sunday readings:
http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
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