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
29:15 It must be nice to be
able to set one’s own wages.
29:16 I find it interesting
that we have a story involving two daughters (not twins) in the midst of a
story about two brothers (twins)!
29:17 I think “lovely” is
the preferable translation. Could the
description of Leah and Rachel be seen at all as sexist or demeaning of women?
29:18 I wonder if it was love
of lust. Is there any significance to
the number seven?
29:19 Is this the meaning
of the question “Who gives this women to be married”?
29:20 Tempus fugit?
29:21 Biblical euphemisms
for sexual intercourse can sound so . . . . biologically crude.
29:22-25 It is ironic that
the trickster has been tricked. Is this
a Biblical example of the principle that what goes around comes around?
29:27 What is “the
week”? Why does Laban say “we” will
give? Who is the we?
29:28 In the end, Jacob got
what he wanted, and more so.
105:1-3 Is this the song
Jacob sang on his wedding night(s)? Several versus could be adapted as a Call
to Worship.
105:5 What wonderful works has the LORD done?
105:6 Why is Jacob not
mentioned?
105:8 The pairing of Jacob
and Rachel can be seen as partial fulfillment of God’s Covenant. Is a thousand
generations meant as figurative language or an actual number?
105:9 Why are the
women/mothers hardly ever mentioned? Can
the reader supply their names and still be faithful to the text?
105:45b Why do so many
Psalms end with this phrase?
128:1 What is the meaning
of “fear”? What does it mean to “walk in
God’s ways”?
128:2 In light of today’s
First Reading, are Leah and Rachel the fruit of the labor of Jacob’s hands?
128:3 Is this why this
Alternate Psalm was chosen to be paired with the First Reading?
128:4 Is the woman not also
blessed?
128:5 A nice
blessing/benediction for a citizen or inhabitant of Jerusalem, but what about
Christians in an American church?
8:26 We do not know how to
pray as we ought. That is why the
disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. That is why Teaching Elders and Educators
ought to be educated in the school of prayer and prepared to teach others how
to pray. Yes, that was me standing on my
soap box. My D. Min. project at
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (2004) was GUIDANCE
IN AND EXPERIENCE OF LITURGICAL PRAYER AS AN ELEMENT OF PERSONAL AND COMMUNAL
WORSHIP IN THE REFORMED TRADITION. Please
contact me if you would like to schedule me to lead
a workshop or retreat on prayer.
8:27 How does the Spirit
intercede for us?
8:28 Do we really know
this?
8:29 There is that
Presbyterian word “Predestined”! What do
you make of it?
8:30 And there is that
other good Presbyterian word “called”!
What do you make of this progression: Predestined → called → justified → glorified?
8:31
This is one of my favorite verses. Does
the second question answer the first? Is
the second question rhetorical or does it assume the answer “No one.”
8:33-34
Interesting verses to someday juxtapose with the Rules of Discipline in the Book of Order.
8:34
In verse 26, Paul writes that the Spirit intercedes for us. Now he writes that Christ Jesus intercedes
for us. Can Paul not make up his mind,
or was he just not being careful? Why
would he intentionally say both?
8:35
Paul asks “Who” but answers with a list of “whats”. This reads like a “Vince Lombardy before the
big game in the locker room” sort of speech.
8:36
Oh well, there goes the momentum of v. 35. What sheep are slaughtered? Where is this written?
8:37
Wait, maybe not! Maybe Paul will pull
out a great one liner.
8:38-39
Paul, can I quote you on that? Is there
any thing missing from this list? I wish
Paul had said “. . . nor things past, nor things present, nor things to come”.
8:39
Is there anything not in creation?
13:31
How many parable did Jesus but before them in Matthew? Are all parables in Matthew about the kingdom
of heaven? What do you know about
mustard seeds?
13:32
Is the mustard plant really the greatest of shrubs and does it eventually
become a tree?
13:33
What do you know about yeast? What is yeast?
13:44
Mustard seeds and yeast are natural and organic. A treasure is not.
13:45-46
Here we have another item of value, but at least it is organic. Would this be a
shrewd investment?
13:47-50
Something smells fishy. We have moved
from “kingdom parables” to apocalyptic prognostications. A net and fish is a combination of
manufactured and natural items combined in one parable. Is this a parable about
the net, about fish, or about the kingdom which is even more?
13:49
What and when is the end of the age? How does it feel to be compared to fish?
13:50
Where have we heard this imagery before? How shall moderns and post-moderns
deal with such imagery?
13:51
This is a good question. I would love to ask this question after every
sermon. Unfortunately this is a bad
answer because it was not true. These
people need to learn a lesson in wisdom from Socrates.
13:52
An entire sermon could probably be preached and an entire hour of education could probably
be developed around this single verse. Who
are the scribes? What is our treasure?
What among our treasure is new?
What among our treasure is old?
What among our treasure is valuable and what is junk? Can treasure also
be junk? Is anyone else thinking of
Phyllis Tickle’s The Great Emergence?
ADDENDUM
This
coming Sunday, July 27th, I will be preaching at the FirstPresbyterian Church, Martin’s Ferry, OH.
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