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
37:1 Why Jacob’s
grandfather Abraham not mentioned? Were
not both Jacob’s father and grandfather aliens?
37:2 Here we have the beginning
of the Joseph narrative’ almost as if a separate narrative has been spliced on. Is there anything significant about Joseph
being seventeen years old? Why are
Bilhah and Zilpah referred to a “His father’s wives” rather than maids or
servants?
37:3-4 Note that in 37:1
Joseph’s father is referred to as “Jacob” but here he is referred to a
“Israel”. This is beginning to read like
the story of yet another dysfunctional family. Is there any symbolic
significance to a long robe with sleeves?
37:12 What do we know about
Shechem?
37:13 What usually happens
when people respond “Here I am”? Are
there any other instances in Scripture were a person responds to another human
(rather than to God) “Here I am”?
37:14 What do we know about
the valley of Hebron?
37:15 Why is Joseph in Shechem
when his father sent him to the valley of Hebron? Was Joseph wandering in the fields because he
was lost? Do you think this was an ordinary “man”?
37:17 What do we know about
Dothan?
37:18 Note to self: Play
ominous music here!
37:19 Why do his brothers
refer to Joseph as “this dreamer”?
37:20 A conspiracy is
hatched. What other dreamers have people tried to kill? How might this verse
shed light on Psalms that speak of being rescued from the pit?
37:21-22 What might have
been Reuben’s motive for saving his brother?
37:23 I wonder what Joseph’s
brothers did with his robe.
37:24 What is the meaning
and significance of the fact that the pit was empty with no water in it? What was this pit for?
37:25 Who are the Ishmaelites? What do we know about Gad? What purpose do
the Ishmaelites serve?
37:26 Is Judah concerned only
about making money from our bother’s demise? What prefiguration might be
intended?
37:27 Might Reuben have
influenced Judah?
37:28 Who drew Joseph up
out of the pit, his brother’s or the Midianite traders? What is the difference between Midianites and
Ishmaelites? Is there any symbolic significance
to the twenty pieces of silver?
105:1 In the NRSV, “LORD” is all upper case. Therefore, what would be the “name” to call
on? What are the LORD’s deeds? Who are the peoples?
105:2 Are Hymns in worship
sung “about” God or “to” God? Are the LORD’s
wonderful works the same as the LORD’s
deeds?
105:3 How does one “Glory
in” the LORD’s name when the LORD’s name is not pronounced?
105:4 How can we
continuously seek God’s presence? Is the LORD
not always with us?
105:5 Are both “miracles”
and “judgments” among the LORD’s works in 105:2?
105:6 Why is Isaac omitted?
105:16-22 Now we learn why
this psalm is paired with the First Reading.
105:45b How often do we end
of praising the LORD
for something we at first
was a curse?
10:5 From what does Paul
quote?
10:6-7 Is Paul quoting or
composing? How would ascending into heaven be the same as bringing Christ down?
10:8 What is Paul quoting?
10:9 So public confession
as well as an interior faith are essential?
What if there is only one but not the other?
10:10 What us the
relationship between justification and salvation, confession and faith?
10:11 What Scripture is
being quoted?
10:12 Who was wanting to
make a distinction between Jew and Greek?
10:13 What does it mean to
call on the name of the Lord? What is Paul quoting?
10:14-15 Is this nothing
more than the old “Can someone who has never heard of Christ be saved?”
question? Later Christians would baptize Plato and Aristotle as
proto-Christians.
10:15 Should all candidates
for the ministry of proclamation have their feet examined? It is no wonder Paul was once confused with
Hermes.
14:22 I am always surprised
when read “Immediately” in a Gospel other than According to Mark. Why might Jesus have sent the disciples off
without him?
14:23 Here we have a
“Summit to Shore” narrative! Thanks,
Matt! If he went up to the mountain alone, why are we told he was alone when
evening came? Some of us go to the Mountains not because they are there but to
find peace and solitude.
14:24 Meanwhile, back on
the boat . . .
14:25 So the disciples
spent the entire night on a boat battered about by winds on the open water?
14:26 Why were the
disciples terrified? Did the disciples think they were seeing any old ghost or
the ghost of Jesus?
14:27 Here we have yet another
“immediately”. Is this the heart of the
passage? Where else have we heard, or will hear, “do not be afraid”?
14:28 If? Did Peter not know or was he not sure? Why did Peter need to be commanded?
14:29 Was Jesus issuing a
command or giving permission?
14:30 How could Peter not
have noticed the strong wind before he left the boat? I cannot help but read
this as a metaphor.
14:31 As a former American
Red Cross Water Safety Instructor I think Jesus should have remembered “Throw,
Row, Tow, Then Go!” Was Peter’s faith
really “little”? None of the other
disciples set out to walk on the water, except Peter! What was it Peter doubted? What is the
relationship between faith and doubt?
14:32 Why might the wind
have ceased when Jesus and Peter got into the boat?
14:33 What convinced these
disciples that Jesus was the Son of God, that he walked on water? That he “saved” Peter? That the wind stopped when Jesus and Peter
climbed into the boat?
ADDENDUM
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