One Little Word

Lessons:
    Deuteronomy 18:15-20
    Psalm 111
    1st Corinthians 8:1-13
    St. Mark 1:21-28

Prayer of the Day:
    Compassionate God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring wholeness to all that is broken and speak truth to us in our confusion, that all creation will see you and know your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

^1:21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. ²² They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, ²⁴ and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching-with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

---

St. Mark 1:21-28 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

In some respects, Mark is the most dramatic of the Gospels. There is an urgency in this book (by most accounts, written 10 to 20 years earlier than any of the others) that moves the story forward, paragraph by paragraph. That urgency is apparent in this week’s lesson.

(more…)

Lessons:
    Jonah 3:1-5, 10
    Psalm 62:5-12
    1st Corinthians 7:29-31
    St. Mark 1:14-20

Prayer of the Day:
    Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us into your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

^1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news^ of God,^{ 15} and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;^ repent, and believe in the good news.”^{ 16} As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

---

St. Mark 1:14-20 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Lessons:
    1st Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20]
    Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
    1st Corinthians 6:12-20
    St. John 1:43-51

Prayer of the Day:
    Thanks be to you Lord Jesus Christ, most merciful redeemer, for the countless blessings and benefits you give. May we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day praising you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

^3.1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

^2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; ^3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. ^4 Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” ^5 and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. ^6 The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” ^7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. ^8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. ^9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

^10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” [^11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. ^12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. ^13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. ^14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever."

^15 Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. ^16 But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." He said, "Here I am." ^17 Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." ^18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him."

^19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. ^20 And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.]

---

 1 Samuel 3:1-10 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

The Baptism of John / The Baptism of Jesus 

Lessons:
    Genesis 1:1-5
    Psalm 29
    Acts 19:1-7
    St. Mark 1:4-11

Prayer of the Day:
    Holy God, creator of light and giver of goodness, your voice moves over the waters. Immerse us in your grace, and transform us by your Spirit, that we may follow after your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

^1.4 John the baptizer appeared^ in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with^ water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” ⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved;^ with you I am well pleased.”

---

 Mark 1:4-11 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 

As the four evangelists wrote of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, they each begin their approach in unique ways. Matthew and Luke begin with birth narratives. John begins before time itself, describing Jesus as the human embodiment of God’s creating word. Mark begins as Jesus, some 30 years old, is baptized by John in the Jordan River. There are four distinct beginnings on display here, and not much agreement among the Gospel writers about the birth or childhood of Jesus.

(more…)

Lessons:
     Isaiah 60:1-6
     Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
     Ephesians 3:1-12
     St. Matthew 2:1-12

Prayer of the Day:
     Almighty and ever-living God, you revealed the incarnation of your Son by the brilliant shining of a star. Shine the light of your justice always in our hearts and over all lands, and accept our lives as the treasure we offer in your praise and for your service, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

^2.1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ^2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ^3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ^4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ^5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
     ^6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
     are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
     for from you shall come a ruler
     who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
^7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ^8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” ^9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,^f until it stopped over the place where the child was. ^10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ^11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ^12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

---

St. Matthew 2:2-12 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.