Lectionary
Ruminations 2.0 is a revised continuation of Lectionary Ruminations. Focusing on The Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the upcoming Sunday from New Revised
Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, Lectionary
Ruminations 2.0 draws on nearly thirty years of pastoral experience. Believing that the questions we ask are often
more important than any answers we find, without overreliance on commentaries I
intend with comments and questions to encourage reflection and rumination for
readers preparing to teach, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are
invited and encouraged. All lectionary
links are to the via the PC(USA) Devotions and
Readings website.
FOR AN UPDATED AND REVISED VERSION, GO TO THIS LINK
FOR AN UPDATED AND REVISED VERSION, GO TO THIS LINK
16:1 God calls the shots,
and chooses the Kings, not Samuel. What
is a “horn” and what does it represent?
16:2 Who was more powerful
and to be feared, Saul or Samuel? Where will this sacrifice take place?
16:3 Why does the LORD keep
focusing on Jesse rather than simply revealing the next king?
16:4 Why did the elders of
Bethlehem tremble?
16:5 The Lord had
instructed Samuel to invite Jesse, but Jesse invites more.
16:1-5 I think there is
some fascinating political intrigue being alluded to in these verses. This sounds like nothing less than the
makings of a coup d'état with the LORD as the main instigator and
conspirator.
16:6-7 Good advice both for
political parties as well as Pastor Nominating Committees, or any nominating
committee. Outward appearance certainly influences people, as to credentials,
but how does one judge another’s heart?
16:10 Do you see any
symbolism in there being seven rejected sons? Why are only the three sons
named? How much does Jesse know about what Samuel is doing?
16:11 Why was the youngest
son the only son not present and presented?
16:12 How does this verse
read when juxtaposed with verse 7?
16:13 What do you make of
the spirit of the LORD coming mightily upon David AFTER Samuel anoints him? I
wonder what ever happened to David’s older brothers.
What can one about the most
popular passage in the Bible that we have not already said? How can we read and
hear it in new and unexpected ways? How
much does the First Reading influence any interpretation for this Sunday?
23:1 Does it serve any
theological and homiletically purpose to point out that “The LORD” is not a
reference to Jesus but to the LORD God?
How many Christians hear this Psalm as a Psalm about Jesus rather than a
Psalm about God? The shepherd imagery seems to draw upon verse 11 of the First
Reading. How might the shepherd imagery
be lost or diminished in modern and urban culture?
23:2 As a backpacker and
hiker, I resonate with the imagery of green pastures and still waters.
23:3 What does it mean for
a soul to be restored? What is a right path?
23:4 Do you prefer the
“darkest valley” of the NRSV or the “valley of the shadow of death” of the KJV
and RSV? Why do we associate dark places with evil? What is the difference between a rod and a staff? How can a rod and a staff protect?
23:5 How does it feel to
walk into a room and find a table prepared for you? Would you sit at a table in the presence of
your enemies and dine? What does it mean to have one’s head anointed with oil
and one’s cup overflowing. Can we really
speak of overflowing cups when in the Eucharist we barely fill little plastic
cups containing less than a shot glass?
Can we speak of being anointed with oil when most congregations rarely,
if ever, practice it? I argue for
anointing with oil at the time of Baptism as well as the anointing with oil
when laying on of hands associated with prayers for healing and wholeness. If we practiced more anointing with oil,
this popular Psalm might actually mean even more than it already does to some
people.
23:6 Is there a difference
between goodness and mercy or is this pairing just the nature of Hebraic poetry?
What does it mean to dwell in the house of the LORD all one’s life? Is “house of the LORD” a reference and/or
allusion to the Jerusalem Temple, or something else?
5:8 Can we read this verse
in juxtaposed with Psalm 23:4? What does
it mean to live as children of light? Does the Dead Sea War Scroll shed any
light on this verse?
5:9 I love this verse. It sounds like something Gandalf might say to
Bilbo, or Frodo might say to Sam.
5:10 And how does one find out
what is pleasing to the Lord? Does Paul
have a scavenger hunt in mind?
5:11 Can one expose works
of darkness without shining light on them? I am thinking of Christian muckrakers,
whistleblowers, and gadflies. Something
about old fashioned photography with film helps me appreciate this verse more
than does digital photography.
5:12-13 What secret things
do you think Paul has in mind? Is this a
reference/allusion to mystery religions, or something else? Let us not forget the rumors that were spread
about cannibalistic Christian rites when non-Christians were dismissed from the
Eucharist. There is something to be said about transparency in all things.
5:14 What is the author of
Ephesians quoting here?
9:1-41 This is one really
loonnngggg Reading? Are you going to
shorten it? I think I will use only
verses 1-12. There seems to be some relationship between blindness, sight, and
sin. The man born physically blind
receives his physical sight, while the Pharisees, born physically seeing, are
spiritually blind and refuse to have their third eye opened. The man was not a sinner while the Pharisees
are portrayed as sinners. I think this
is the nature of John’s Gospel, often teasing us with the interplay of the
physical and the spiritual as it compares and contrasts the two realms. This is pre-modern stuff. There is no Cartesian mind/body split in John. Both the spiritual and the physical seem to
exist in the same sphere but operate on different plains of awareness.
9:2 What is wrong with this
question?
9:3 What is wrong with this
answer?
9:4 Who are the “We”? What
night is coming?
9:5 What is Jesus when he
is not in the world?
9:6-7 Why spit on the ground
and make mud and put it on the man’s eyes? Why was the man not healed until
after he went and washed?
9:8 Why was he not
identified as a beggar before now?
9:9 “I am the man” sounds a
lot like one of the “I am” sayings of Jesus in John’s Gospel. Might this be intentional?
9:10 This is a legitimate
question.
9:11 Is there any
significance to the construction “the man called Jesus”?
9:12 How could this man knot
know where Jesus is? What might John be suggesting
in this verse?
9:13 Who brought the man to
the Pharisees and why?
9:14 Oh no! Not the Sabbath? Surely there must be a law against spitting
or making mud on the Sabbath!
9;15 Why is this man being
questioned?
9:16 Imagine that,
religious authorities having a divided opinion!
Let’s put it to a vote, after all, the majority is always right. Or can councils sometimes ere?
9:17 A radical proposal -
let the one whose life was changed have the final word. Do prophets usually
heal?
9:18 I think skepticism is
a good thing.
9:19 Can the parents legitimately
answer the last question. Read this
verse in juxtaposition with the question asked in 9:2.
9:19-21 What does it mean
that “he was of age”? Are the man’s
parents passing the buck?
9:22-23 Let us not forget
that most scholars agree that John is the latest of the four canonical Gospels,
perhaps here reflecting the historical split between Judaism and Christianity. What did it mean – what would it have meant –
for a Jew to “be put out of the synagogue”?
The man had previously, in 9:17, proclaimed that Jesus was a
prophet. Did the man parents think that
Jesus was the Messiah but were afraid to say so?
9:24 The Pharisees knew
Jesus was a sinner. What do we know?
9:25 This man seems to be
choosing his words carefully.
9:26 Has the answer not
already been established?
9:27 Is this sarcasm or
acerbic wit? I think the Pharisees doth
protest too much.
9:28 Is this the only
reference in Scripture to “disciples of Moses”? Was the man really a disciple
of Jesus?
9:29 But we know where he
has come from, don’t we?
9:30-33 An astonishing
application of logic and astonishing testimony from who is turning out to be an
astonishing man.
9:32 Is this a true
statement?
9:33 Perhaps this is the
key verse!
9:34 The typical response
to questioning and challenging personal and institutional authority. Why the
plural “sins” rather than the singular “sin”?
9:35 After thirty-four
verses of narrative, “Son of Man” terminology is raised. Why the change? Here is the progression as I see it:
9:1 Rabbi
9:17 Prophet
9:22 The Messiah
9:33 Man from God
9:35 Son of Man
9:36 How many people in the
pew will also ask questions about “son of man” terminology?
9:37 Is this the first time
in John that Jesus has identified himself as “the son of man”?
9:38 And another step in
the progression listed in the comments for 9:35, now we have “Lord” and a statement
of, not blind, but seeing faith.
9:39 Where do we find
ourselves in this verse. Where does the
institutional church usually, or sometimes, find itself?
9:40 And the answer to this
question is?
9:41 Does spiritual
blindness excuse sin? Perhaps there is
something to be said for spiritual blindness. Perhaps spiritual blindness
absolves one of responsibility. Being spiritually
illuminated brings with it spiritual responsibility.
ADDENDUM
I
am now approved and available for pulpit supply and other work within the
bounds of Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery.
Send an email to harrisjohnedward@gmail.com
to inquire about dates.
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