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Bible Study: Epiphany 7 (C) – February 23, 2025

March 02, 2025

RCL: Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50; Luke 6:27-38

This Bible study is part of a series produced by the Office of Global Partnerships of The Episcopal Church.

Genesis 45:3-11, 15

The story of Joseph is well known. His brothers sold him to merchants and, after some time dealing with imprisonment and dreams, he ended up becoming a great administrator in the land of Egypt. Today’s reading brings us a reunion between Joseph and his brothers. Such an emotional meeting brought not only regret and sadness but also joy and reconciliation. All that in a few verses, in a few sentences. By that family story, we are invited to reflect on reconciliation and rebuilding relationships. As we read that passage lightly, it may sound as if the forgiveness was instantaneous between Joseph and his brothers. In fact, they all had to overcome resentment and guilt to move forward. They were called by God, as Joseph points out, to restore their family bonds as life challenged them all with famine and difficult living conditions.

  • Have you ever felt betrayed or despised by those you love or trust (family, friends, mates, etc.)?
  • Do you believe in reconciliation and forgiveness as essential experiences for mental and spiritual health?

Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42

The psalms are those beloved ancient prayers that have been consoling and inspiring Christians for centuries. Trustful, dramatic, joyful, and thoughtful – the psalms invite us to wait on God’s merciful and unending love. They usually encourage us to put our trust in God who is the one who cares for all creation. The psalms are keen on expressing all the dimensions of life: good and bad things happen to everyone, suffering and injustice, sadness and loneliness – but joy, freedom, and companionship as well. Psalm 37 insists that we should wait patiently on the Lord and we will be lovingly rewarded.

  • Do you pray with the psalms in your personal moments of prayer?
  • Do you know that you can pray the whole psalter within a month using the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer?

1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50

The Apostle Paul was a person who loved to write using meaningful words and expressions and their opposite words. In his letter to his fellow Christians of the Church in Corinth, he spoke about the Resurrection in terms of great contrasts: perishable/imperishable, dishonor/glory, weakness/power, physical body/spiritual body. Essentially, the apostle wanted to remind us about the transforming way of God’s works in this world. Nothing will remain the same; everything and everyone is to be changed and improved by God’s loving action.

  • Can you see God’s unexpected ways of changing things and situations in life?
  • In a world ruled by the idea of money and success, how can we trust in God’s promises when we are poor or weak?

Luke 6:27-38

Luke’s Gospel can be very disturbing sometimes. There is a loving and forgiving father of two stubborn sons. There is a suspicious foreigner (the Samaritan) who shows mercy and compassion and fulfills the will of God. There is also the Magnificat, a biblical poem where the poor ones are highly exalted and the rich ones are sent empty away. We live in a world where even bank services and credit cards offer cashback and all sorts of returning advantages, but the Lord Jesus asks us to “love [our] enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.” How can that be? Our call to be merciful is far beyond our skills and virtues, isn’t it? Perhaps we will find some answers if we just go back to the issue of trusting our lives and futures to God and waiting on the Father’s love, as we just read in the previous readings. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

  • How can we possibly accept and obey Jesus’ words in verses 27 and 28: “I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you”? Is that something reasonable these days?
  • What does it really mean to be merciful these days? Isn’t that too naïve?

The Rt. Rev. Eduardo Coelho Grillo, bishop of Rio de Janeiro, was born and baptized in Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil, on November 19, 1964, in an Anglican family. Right after his confirmation, he joined his parish’s youth group, which helped him to find out that the church was much wider than his home parish. He had his theological training at the National Episcopal Seminary (1985-1988), was ordained deacon in January 1989, and made a priest seven months later. In April 2017, he was consecrated bishop in the Diocese of Rio de Janeiro. His ministry is mostly focused on pastoral care and spiritual growth. He believes that, as a bishop, his main task is to prepare church ministers (lay and ordained) to be sensitive to acknowledging God’s loving presence amid the hard social reality of his country. He likes reading and talking about spirituality and worship. Bible study and pastoral visiting are also things that he enjoys. He likes to be in touch with people. As people say he is a good listener, he is always ready for a good chat.

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