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
2:1-12 How much does this
reading influence our understanding of the Transfiguration and inform our
interpretation of Mark 9:2-9? Can we read Mark 9:29, in part, as Midrash on
this reading?
2:1 What is a whirlwind? Is
there any significance to the fact that they were on their way from Gilgal?
2:2 What is the
significance of Bethel?
2:3 Who are the company of
prophets (see 2:5 as well)? Why did Elisha
bid them to keep silent?
2:4 Note the repetition of “stay
here” and “as you yourself live” as in 2:2.
2:5 What do you know about
Jericho? Note again the pattern of repetition, as in 2:3.
2:6 What do you know about
the Jordan? Why this travel narrative? Why this continuous pattern of repetition
and parallel structure, 2:2-3/2:4-5/2:6-7?
2:7 Is there anything
significant or symbolic about the number fifty?
2:8 What is a mantel? Is this a Midrash on Moses’ parting of the
Red Sea?
2:9 What is a double
measure of spirit? Can prophetic spirit
be willed or inherited? I would settle for half of Elijah’s spirit.
2:10 Does Elijah have the
power to grant this request or does this power rest with God?
2:11 Why does a chariot of
fire and horses of fire appear? What is
their relationship to the whirlwind? Note the appearance of fire in Psalm 50:3.
2:12 What are “the chariots
of Israel and its horseman”? Why did Elisha tear his clothes in two?
50:1 Does God not summon
from the setting of the sun to its rising?
50:2 What is perfect
beauty? How does God “shine”?
50:3 Does this verse alone,
with its “fire” and “mighty tempest,” justify this Psalm being paired with the First
Reading?
50:4 Who are God’s people?
50:5 Are we to assume from
the First Reading that, at the time, only Elijah was faithful? Who initiated
the covenant, God or the people?
50:6 How do the heaven’s
declare God’s righteousness? I always ask the question when it appears: how do
you deal with the “Selah”?
4:3 Is our gospel
veiled? What sort of veil is Paul
talking about? Who are perishing?
4:4 Who, or what, is” the
god of this world”? How does this verse illuminate our understanding of the Transfiguration
and inform our interpretation of the Gospel Reading?
4:5 Why does Paul even have
to write “For we do not proclaim ourselves”?
4:6 Where in Scripture did
God say “Let light shine out of darkness”?
9:2 Six days later, after
what? Why does Jesus always seem to take
with him Peter, James and John? What is
the meaning of the word “transfigured”?
9:3 Was this in the days
before Clorox and/or Oxi-Clean? Have you ever seen anybody dressed in dazzling
white?
9:4 Why Elisha and
Moses? What do they represent and/or
symbolize? If you had to pick two people
from the Jewish Scriptures to appear with you, whom would you pick? What do you
think they were talking about with Jesus?
9:5 Why might Peter have
wanted to build three dwellings?
9:6 Note that Peter
(singular) did not know what to say, for they (plural) were terrified. Have you
ever been terrified?
9:7 What does the cloud
represent? Where and when have we heard something like this before?
9:8 What just happened?
9:9 Why would Jesus order
Peter, James and John not to tell anyone about what they had just seen? Why is “Son of Man” used here but not earlier
in this account? Why do Peter, James and
John have to wait until after the resurrection to tell people about what they
experienced?
ADDENDUM
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