Consider the Word, January 27, 2022

 
Consider the Word, January 27, 2022
4^th Sunday after Epiphany
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for January 30:

• Jeremiah 1:4-10
• Psalm 71:1-6
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• Luke 4:21-30

 
Collect

Living God,

in Christ you make all things new.

Transform the poverty of our nature

by the riches of your grace,

and in the renewal of our lives

make known your glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Reading: Luke 4:21-30

Jesus began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

 
Reflection Questions

1. Why were they filled with rage?  
2. Is the message we proclaim these days good news for the poor? For the captive? For the oppressed?
3. Does our proclamation envision that all can be saved?”

 
Closing Prayer

O God of all the prophets,

you knew us and chose us

before you formed us in the womb.

Fill us with faith that speaks your word,

hope that does not disappoint,

and love that bears all things for your sake,

until that day when we shall know you fully,

even as we are known by you. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 4:21-30

^16-21 He came to Nazareth where he had been raised. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,

God’s Spirit is on me;

    he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,

Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and

    recovery of sight to the blind,

To set the burdened and battered free,

    to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”

²² All who were there, watching and listening, were surprised at how well he spoke. But they also said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son, the one we’ve known since he was just a kid?”

^23-27 He answered, “I suppose you’re going to quote the proverb, ‘Doctor, go heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we heard you did in Capernaum.’ Well, let me tell you something: No prophet is ever welcomed in his hometown. Isn’t it a fact that there were many widows in Israel at the time of Elijah during that three and a half years of drought when famine devastated the land, but the only widow to whom Elijah was sent was in Sarepta in Sidon? And there were many lepers in Israel at the time of the prophet Elisha but the only one cleansed was Naaman the Syrian.”

^28-30 That set everyone in the meeting place seething with anger. They threw him out, banishing him from the village, then took him to a mountain cliff at the edge of the village to throw him to his doom, but he gave them the slip and was on his way.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, January 20, 2022

Consider the Word, January 20, 2022
3^rd Sunday after the Epiphany
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for January 23:

• Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
• Psalm 19
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
• Luke 4:14-21

 
Collect

Almighty God,

by grace alone you call us

and accept us in your service.

Strengthen us by your Spirit,

and make us worthy of your call;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Luke 4:14-21

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

 
Reflection Questions

1. What is this good news? It is news that this is the “year of God’s favor.”
2. How do you think your community would have responded to Jesus’ hometown visit?
3. What do you “take to be the heart of the gospel”?

 
Closing Prayer

In you, O Lord our God,

we find our joy,

for through your law and your prophets

you formed a people in mercy and freedom,

in justice and righteousness.

Pour your Spirit on us today,

that we who are Christ's body

may bear the good news of your ancient promises

to all who seek you. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 4:14-21

^14-15 Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit. News that he was back spread through the countryside. He taught in their meeting places to everyone’s acclaim and pleasure.

^16-21 He came to Nazareth where he had been raised. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,

God’s Spirit is on me;

    he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,

Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and

    recovery of sight to the blind,

To set the burdened and battered free,

    to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, January 13, 2022

 
Consider the Word, January 13, 2022
2^nd Sunday after the Epiphany
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for January 16:

• Isaiah 62:1-5
• Psalm 36:5-10
• 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
• John 2:1-11

 
Collect

Almighty God,

your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

is the light of the world.

May your people,

illumined by your word and sacraments,

shine with the radiance of his glory,

that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed

to the ends of the earth;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

 
Reflection Questions
The changing of water to wine is Jesus’ first public act in John, the inaugural “sign” of God’s presence in the world through him.
1.       Jesus asks, “what concern is that to you and to me?”, yet somehow it is his concern. Why?
2.       What does this wine at a banquet feast represent?
3.       Mary demonstrates a trust in Jesus’ ability to address the need that has arisen, can we?
 
Closing Prayer

O God of steadfast love,

at the wedding in Cana

your Son Jesus turned water into wine,

delighting all who were there.

Transform our hearts by your Spirit,

that we may use our varied gifts

to show forth the light of your love

as one body in Christ. Amen.

 
The Message: John 2:1-11

^1-3 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”

⁴ Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”

⁵ She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

^6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.

⁸ “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.

^9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”

¹¹ This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

 
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, January 13, 2022 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany

Consider the Word, January 13, 2022
2^nd Sunday after the Epiphany
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for January 16:

• Isaiah 62:1-5
• Psalm 36:5-10
• 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
• John 2:1-11

 
Collect

Almighty God,

your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

is the light of the world.

May your people,

illumined by your word and sacraments,

shine with the radiance of his glory,

that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed

to the ends of the earth;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

 
Reflection Questions
The changing of water to wine is Jesus’ first public act in John, the inaugural “sign” of God’s presence in the world through him.

1. Jesus asks, “what concern is that to you and to me?”, yet somehow it is his concern. Why?
2. What does this wine at a banquet feast represent?
3. Mary demonstrates a trust in Jesus’ ability to address the need that has arisen, can we?

 
Closing Prayer

O God of steadfast love,

at the wedding in Cana

your Son Jesus turned water into wine,

delighting all who were there.

Transform our hearts by your Spirit,

that we may use our varied gifts

to show forth the light of your love

as one body in Christ. Amen.

 
The Message: John 2:1-11

^1-3 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”

⁴ Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”

⁵ She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

^6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.

⁸ “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.

^9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”

¹¹ This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, January 6, 2022 The Baptism of the Lord

Consider the Word, January 6, 2022
The Baptism of the Lord
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for January 9:

• Isaiah 43:1-7
• Psalm 29
• Acts 8:14-17
• Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

 
Collect

Eternal Father,

who at the baptism of Jesus

revealed him to be your Son,

anointing him with the Holy Spirit,

keep your children, born of water and the Spirit,

faithful to their calling;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

 
Reflection Questions

1. In the Gospels and Letters, repentance, baptism, and life in the Holy Spirit aren’t really about becoming a member of a particular church – what value is there to being baptized? 
2. Acknowledging the things we’ve done wrong and feeling sorry is a good thing, no doubt. However, we should reflect on the ways in which the community is complicit in practices and values that are not God’s values: How might we as a community, at the start of a new year, repent of such connections.

 
Closing Prayer

God, your voice moves over the waters.

Immerse us in your grace,

mark us with your images,

and raise us to live our baptismal vows

empowered by the Holy Spirit

and the example of Christ our Lord,

in whose name we pray. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

¹⁵ The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, “Could this John be the Messiah?”

^16-17 But John intervened: “I’m baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”

^21-22 After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson