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Minnesota Episcopal
Environmental Stewardship
Commission (MEESC)

Episcopal Church in Minnesota

Upcoming Activities:

Next Meeting:

We meet quarterly close to the solstice and equinox.

Annual Special Projects

Resolutions:

Resolution on the Spirituality of Food Production

Resolution on Church Buildings and Grounds

Resolution on Creation Season
Resolution on Green Congregations

 

Lectionary Reflection

Feast of
St. Bartholomew

Year B, Proper 24
Gospel Theme Track

Year C, Lent 1

Psalm

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *
abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 He shall say to the LORD,
"You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
my God in whom I put my trust."
3 He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with his pinions,
and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *
nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
7 A thousand shall fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand, *
but it shall not come near you.
8 Your eyes have only to behold *
to see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, *
and the Most High your habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, *
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, *
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; *
you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14 Because he is bound to me in love,
therefore will I deliver him; *
I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
I am with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.
Printable version

 

Reflection on Psalm 91
by Nan Stokes

9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, *

and the Most High your habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, *
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

In this day of "miracle drugs" and antibiotics, we think less and less of "plagues", especially one coming "near our dwellings", but in the time when the psalms were composed, such a happening was a reality. Psalm 91 goes on to tell of other ways the Lord will act as our refuge, and many of those ways talk of natural things – things of nature:"dash your foot against a stone" and "tread upon the lion and the adder". In the Old Testament reading from Isaiah this day, natural things are used in telling about how we "like sheep" have gone astray, and the Suffering Servant is described as a "lamb that is led to the slaughter". This reading is a part of our scriptural heritage and remains so beautiful in its description that every time we hear it, it becomes more special. Reading the lectionary lessons with an eye (and ear) to how many times nature is part of the image keeps reminding us that the environment is involved in everything that is happening on the stage of our life drama. We must continue to make the Lord our refuge and to steward the environment that is part of creation.

To Reflections on other Readings for Year B, Proper 24:

Reflections available at the active links
Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary
Revised Common
Lectionary
 
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament
(Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Isaiah 53: 4-12
Job 38: 1-7 (34-41)
Isaiah 53: 4-12
Psalm
Psalm 91
(this page)
Psalm 104: 1-9, 25, 37c
Psalm 91: 9-16
(this page)
New Testament Reading:
Hebrews 4: 12-16
Hebrews 5: 1-10
Gospel

To Reflections on Readings for Year C, Lent 1:

Reflections available at the active links  
Old Testament
(Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Deuteronomy 26: 1-11
Psalm
Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-16
(this page)
New Testament Reading:
Romans 10: 8b-13 
Gospel

To Reflections on Readings for the Feast of St. Bartholomew:

Reflections available at the active links  
Old Testament
(Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Deuteronomy 18: 15-18
Psalm
Psalm 91 (this page) or
Psalm 91: 1-4
New Testament Reading:
1 Corinthians 4: 9-15 
Gospel
Luke 22: 24-30

Nan Stokes (1929-2010) was an active member of St. Edward the Confessor Episcopal Church, Duluth, MN, when she originally wrote this reflection in 1998. From 2001 to 2005, Nan was also Co-Chair of MEESC. We welcome your comments. Please address your comments or additional reflections to our WebVerger or any MEESC member, or mail them to:


 MEESC
c/o C. Morello
4451 Lakeside Drive
Eveleth, MN 55743-4400 USA

The MEESC assumes that all correspondence received is for publication on this web site. If your comments are not for publication, please so note on your correspondence. The MEESC reserves the right to decide which items are included on the website.
   

This page last updated 2012-10-18.
 
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