Scriptures and Reflection Questions for June 3rd, 2012

Trinity Sunday, Year B
June 3, 2012

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). We'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 Episcopal Church Center also publishes a weekly Bible Study based on the Sunday lectionary. A current seminarian prepares the study. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/107902_116094_ENG_HTM.htm.
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The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and  worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
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Isaiah 6:1-8In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and
lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above
him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered
their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory."

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house
filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean
lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King,
the LORD of hosts!"

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from
the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now
that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted
out." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will
go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"

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When have you had an experience of the Holy?

If you had such a profound sense of anointing as Isaiah has experienced, how might
you answer the question, "Whom shall I send...?"

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Psalm 29 Afferte Domino

Ascribe to God, you heavenly beings, *
ascribe to God glory and strength.

Ascribe due honor to God's holy Name; *
worship the Most High in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of God is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; *
God is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of God is a powerful voice; *
the voice of God is a voice of splendor.

The voice of God breaks the cedar trees; *
God breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

God makes Lebanon skip like a calf *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

The voice of God splits the flames of fire; the voice of God shakes the wilderness;*
God shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of God makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.

And in the temple of the Holy One, *
all are crying, "Glory!"

God sits enthroned above the flood, *
enthroned for evermore.

God shall give strength to the people; *
God shall give the people the blessing of peace.

St. Helena's Psalter

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In what setting in nature are you most aware of God's wonder?

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Romans 8:12-17
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according
to the flesh -- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by
the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are
led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of
slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When
we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit
that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ -- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified
with him.

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What does it mean to you to be a child of God?

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John 3:1-17

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by
night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from
God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God."
Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without
being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having
grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus
answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being
born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of
the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born
from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but
you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who
is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus
answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these
things?

"Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen;
yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and
you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No
one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of
Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son
of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes
in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order
that the world might be saved through him."

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John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world...) is one of the most familiar and quoted
passages of scripture. How does reading that verse in its context within this wholepassage shed light on that verse's meaning for you?

Why do you think this passage was chosen as the gospel reading for Trinity Sunday?

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