Lectionary Ruminations 2.0 for Sunday, June 5, 2016, the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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.

FirstReading - 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24)

17:8 Whom did the word of the LORD come to?  How did the word of the LORD come? Has the word of the LORD ever come to you?

17:9 Why Zarephath? What and were is Sidon?

17:10 Why ask the widow for water when she was commanded to feed him?

17:11 Bread and water does not make for a gourmet meal, but they are the staples of life.

17:12 Why do the LORD’s words almost always encounter an obstacle?

17:13 Where else might we hear “Do not be afraid.”? What was the widow afraid of?

17:14 Did this word of the LORD also come to Elijah? What has rain to do with it?

17:15-16 How long do you think this positive situation prevailed?

(17:17) It seems like this family is experiencing one calamity after another.

(17:18) Why does the woman/mistress blame her son’s illness on Elijah?

(17:19) Why does Elijah take the son to another location?

(17:20) Why does Elijah blame the LORD? Is Elijah more concerned about the woman’s son or about his own reputation?

(17:21) Why stretch out on the child? Why three times?

(17:22) Might the LORD listen to the voice of Elijah because Elijah listened to the word of the LORD?

(17:23) See, I did not cause the death of your son.

(17:24) Had she doubted before this? How do people know that you are a person of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is true?

Psalm- 146:1-10

146:1 How does one’s soul praise the Lord?

146:2 This verse is a good example of Hebrew poetic restatement. Does anything dead praise the LORD?

146:3 What contemporary princes do people tend to put their trust in?

146:4 Some prices seem to institutionalize their plans better than others. Consider some of the plans of FDR.

146:5 Note the lower case “Lord” her and in 146:1, but the upper case “LORD” in 146:2.

146:6 What does it mean to keep faith forever?

146:7-9 These verses read like a social justice agenda.

146:10 Not that the Psalm ends as it began.

Second Reading – Galatians 1:11-24

1:11 What does a gospel of human origins look and sound like?

1:12 What was the nature of Paul’s revelation?  How did you receive the gospel?

1:13 What skeleton’s are in your closet?

1:14 Is Paul boasting?

1:15 Is this verse a proof text for the doctrine of predestination?

1:16 Is it really true that Paul did not confer with any human being?

1:17 Is this also true?  Why would Paul go to Arabia?  Does he mention this Arabian journey anywhere else in his writings?

1:18 Is there any significance to the time periods of three years and fifteen days?  What had Paul been doing for three years? What do you think Paul and Cephas talked about for fifteen days?

1:19 Why would Paul also see James but not any other apostle?  Jesus had a brother?

1:20 Why must Paul swear that he is not lying?

1:21 Where are these regions?

1:22 What does “unknown by sight” mean?

1:23 Had Paul really been trying to destroy the faith he is now proclaiming or was he trying to destroy a faith his misundertstood?

1:24 Why were the Christians of Judea glorifying God?

Gospel- Luke 7:11-17

7:11 Who went to Nain?  What do you know about Nain?  How many people make a crowd large?

7:12 Echoes of 1 Kings 17:10? Who does the dead man remind you of? 

7:13 How many times might Jesus have seen something similar and not had compassion? Where else will we hear “Do not weep”?

7:14 Why did Jesus touch the bier and not the dead man? 

7:15 Is this anything short of a miracle?  A sign? A wonder?

7:16 What sort of “fear” seized them that would lead them to glorify God?  Being proclaimed a prophet seems a far less statement than being proclaimed the messiah or Son of God. Are you hearing echoes of 1 Kings 17:24?

ADDENDUM

I am currently a Member at Large of Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I am a trained and experienced Interim Pastor currently available to supply as a fill-in occasional guest preacher and worship leader or serve in a half-time to full-time position.