Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
Pentecost is the day that God sent the Holy Spirit and spoke to all people. People from all around the world were able to understand in their own language the Gospel. God spoke and they comprehended. Jesus was human. Jesus was divine. Jesus was the beginning and the end. Jesus was love. The lectionary focuses today on the way that God has spoken, to deliver [our] soul[s] from death, and to keep [us] alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield. God speaks to Moses, through Moses, and directly to the people in a way that protects their lives and gives them hope. It seems significant to God that people know and trust that they are loved. Who can you speak to this week? Can you let them know they are important to you? Can you share with them that they are loved in a way that they understand? Have you ever felt God speaking directly to you? Perhaps you are ready to share that experience with someone. Trust that the Spirit is working through your words, hands, and hearts. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2099;%201%20Kings%208:54-65;%20John%203:31-36&version=MSG I find it helpful and fun to read different translations of the Bible. My primary preference is the New Revised Standard Version. The NRSV is based on the most recent sources and scholarship and whenever appropriate chooses inclusive language. I read this morning’s lections using The Message, a modern translation. Eugene Peterson’s Message is often poetic and revealing. The part I keep reading over is this, ”The earth born is earth bound and speaks earth language.” I am thinking a lot about language this week. Sunday is the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit swept in and allowed for people to understand the Gospel in their own language. It can be difficult and even frustrating to understand what others are saying, sometimes even while you are speaking the same language! But the one who came from above, Jesus, speaks God’s language. And in that truth there is peace, hope, love, and life. What languages will you encounter this week that you have difficulty understanding? Can you find in Christ a common language? Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+99%3B+Numbers+16%3A41-50%3B+1+Peter+4%3A7-11&version=NRSV The Revised Common Lectionary was published in 1992. It was a revision of the common lectionary of 1983, which was derived from the lectionary that came out of the post-Vatican II Conference. I encourage you to read more about the lectionary here. https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/faq2.php Emblematic of God’s word throughout all of time I find it amazing that this grouping of scripture passages so often speak directly to our current human condition. These texts for May 26, 2020, chosen 28 years ago, are chillingly relevant. I don't think God caused Covid-19 as a response to people grumbling and the sin that is among us and within us. Christ has atoned for sin. Nevertheless, there is a lot of grumbling. Doctors, nurses, scientists, and others have rushed in to the crowd to stand between the dead and the living to work to save lives. Thanks be to God for Aaron and his incense and those who are treating patients and researching for a vaccine. Peter writes the end is coming near. So be hospitable with one another without grumbling. Yes. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God. Yes. Whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. Yes. Read the lectionary texts for today. May God give us strength in this time of suffering to grumble less and love more. Peace, Dean On this Memorial Day I offer you this prayer from The United Methodist Book of Worship, read by Army veteran Terry Thompson. The footage is from the Grand Rapids Veterans Home. Adrianne is offering the music. May God bless your remembrances.
https://vimeo.com/421749700 Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A Elijah is carried to heaven in a chariot of fire, and Elisha carries on. Elisha picks up the staff and parts the waters to walk to the other side. This power over the waters was demonstrated by God through Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha. In a practical matter, parting the waters saved days, perhaps weeks, of travel. Going across a river is a lot shorter than going around a river. Theologically it demonstrated God as the power over all things. God was the ultimate force of nature and was worthy of awe and praise. As leaders, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha demanded the respect of those who followed. God was at work in and through them. The staff that they carried was the conductor through which God's saving power ran. If you wanted to live and find your way to freedom, follow the one who spoke directly to God. If you have a walking stick or a cane, reenact the parting of the sea as if you were Moses, Joshua, or one of the prophets. Imagine what it might mean to those who follow for the power of God to make a way when there was no way. And, as you think about the power and flow of water, pray for those in the Midland area. The flooding damage for many was severe. Some lakes have now turned into puddles with the destruction of the dams. It's been a hard couple of months. God is still at work. Maybe these cartoons can lift the load for a moment or two. I especially related to the hair one. God bless you. Worship begins at 10 am tomorrow at www.wesleypark.org. I'll send out the link to the 11 am Zoom coffee hour Sunday morning. If you need to listen to the service please contact Max Gibbard and he can help you out. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
The Elijah and Elisha story has similarities to the story of Ruth and Naomi. Naomi pleads with her daughter-in-law to go and make a life of her own. Ruth replies, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God." Elisha is the young protege for the great prophet Elijah. He knows that Elijah will be taken up to heaven that day, but he will not leave his side. "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." Have you known someone you would follow to the ends of the earth like Elijah or Naomi? What made them so special to you? What made you love them in this way? Perhaps there is someone in your life like Elisha or Ruth. They have been watching and learning from you, trying to walk in your footsteps. How does having someone who wants to journey with you impact the way you choose to live your life? How can you do the difficult thing and give to them a double portion of your blessing? If your "Elijah" or "Naomi" are still alive, tell them what they mean to you. If you have an "Elisha" or "Ruth" in your life, let them know how they have blessed you and how you hope they will be blessed. Peace, Dean |
REv. Dean N. PrentissI am blessed to be the Pastor at Wesley Park UMC. Find Daily Lectionary Readings Here. Archives
February 2021
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