Lectionary Ruminations 2.5 is a further revision and refinement
of my Lectionary Ruminations and Lectionary
Ruminations 2.0. Focusing on The Revised Common Lectionary Readings
for the upcoming Sunday from New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, Lectionary Ruminations 2.5 draws on over thirty years of pastoral
experience. Believing that the questions we ask are often more important
than any answers we find, without over reliance on commentaries, I intend with
sometimes pointed and sometimes snarky comments and Socratic like questions, to
encourage reflection and rumination for readers preparing to lead a Bible
study, draft liturgy, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are invited and
encouraged.
58:1 Last week, Micah
shouted out to the mountains. This week, Isaiah shouts out to people what
sounds like an indictment. This is not the sort of shout out people want to
hear.
58:2 I think the two most
important words in this verse are “as if”. I think I detect some
sarcasm on God’s part. What place might sarcasm have in teaching and
preaching? Is this verse distinguishing between religiosity and
praxis?
58:3 Is God mocking the
religious? How much do we serve our own interests rather than God’s
interests on our Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday)?
58:4 Can you think of any
religious community this verse might apply to? What specific
situation might Isaiah have had in mind?
58:5-7 I am hearing echoes of
last week’s “what does the Lord require?” Does a true fast mean
giving up a portion of what the believer has to those who do not have it? These
verses sound like the foundation of a Social Gospel ministry.
58:7 Truth is in order to
goodness? By their fruits you shall know
them?
58:8 Who is the vindicator?
What is a “rear guard” and what is their function?
58:9a Do the previous verses
delineate preconditions for the LORD hearing our prayer? It is
usually the one whom the LORD calls who responds “Here I am” but in this verse
it is the LORD who responds “Here I am” when the people call on the LORD.
(58:9b) What might “the
pointing of the finger” refer to?
(58:10) This verses read like a
restatement of 58:7-8.
(58:11) This verse offers
images that suggest so many other passages, such as the vision of dry bones and
the many biblical references to springs of living water.
(58:12) What ancient ruins? How
might this promise of restoration serve as a vision of church renewal,
revitalization and transformation, or even urban renewal?
PSALM 112:1-9 (10)
112:1 This verse reads like
the antithesis of the Isaiah Reading. What does it mean to “fear”
the LORD? When I read verses like this I am usually reminded of
Aldous Huxley’s “mysterium
tremendum” as described in his The Doors of Perception and
of Rudolph Otto’s “mystery” or “numinous” as explored in his The Idea of the Holy: An Inquiry into the
Non-rational Factor in the Idea of the Divine and its Relation to the Rational. It is one thing to obey God’s
commandments, and another thing to delight in them.
112:2 The reward (like the
punishment) goes to the next generation. Perhaps reconsider Isaiah 58:12.
112:3 Do verses like this
fuel the health and wealth gospel?
112:4 You may want to
juxtapose the light of this verse with the light of Isaiah 58:8 and 58:10
112:5 I assume the lending in
this verse is a lending without interest. How does this verse speak
to Wall Street and investment bankers?
112:6 I assume this is not a
reference to stubbornness.
112:7 What are evil tidings?
Is your heart firm, secure in the LORD?
112:8 This sounds like a
restatement of 112:7b. When is the end?
112:9 Based on this verse,
this Psalm, and the First Reading, how might we define “righteousness?” What
does this verse say about our social safety net? What is a “horn?”
112:10 Is this why some people
are so opposed to Social Security, public assistance, and a general
redistribution of wealth in our current context of such economic inequality?
1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-12 (13-16)
2:1 As an amateur
philosopher who used to teach Introduction to Philosophy at the undergraduate
level, I am getting tired of Paul bad mouthing “lofty words” and
“wisdom”. On the other hand, I like that he employs “the mystery of
God” (see my comments on Psalm 112:1). I think we need more mystery
in our churches and in our lives. What do you think?
2:2 Why does Paul seem to
usually focus on Christ crucified rather than Christ resurrected?
2:3 What weakness, fear and
trembling does Paul refer to?
2:4 Is it possible teach
and preach with plausible words of wisdom as well as a demonstration of Spirit and
power?
2:5 What about Anselm’s
“faith seeking understanding”? Thomas Aquinas opined “Philosophy is
the handmaiden of Theology”. Can our faith not rest on both human
wisdom AND on the power of God?
2:6-7 Now Paul changes his
tune! If I did not know better, I might think he is referring to
esoteric and perhaps even Gnostic teachings. I think I smell the
beginnings of a conspiracy theory novel here: “Secret and hidden teachings of
Paul recently discovered and revealed!” Dan Brown, are you reading
this? Were the Corinthians among the mature? Are you?
2:8 When was the last time
any ruler of any age got it right? They Crucified Jesus. They
condemned Socrates. Rulers always seek to quiet the voices of those
who speak truth to power.
2:9 And what is Paul
quoting, Isaiah 64:4 perhaps? Do you think Paul was quoting from
memory or from a text before his eyes? Was he quoting the Greek or the Hebrew?
2:10 Does God reveal through
the Spirit today or did all revelation cease with the end of the New Testament
era? When we speak of Christ as the revelation of God, do we short
change the Holy Spirit as revelatory?
2:11 Paul is starting to
sound like a psychologist. What is “the human spirit?”
2:12 Shall we compare and
contrast the spirit of the world and the Spirit that is from God? What
gifts does God bestow?
(2:13) This sounds like a
little Orwellian doublespeak, sort of hard to defend against let alone
interpret. Or maybe Paul is just being “spiritual” but not
religious. Is Paul contrasting human wisdom with spiritual
wisdom? Are you spiritual?
(2:14) Here is a topic for a
Sunday School lesson, discussion, or sermon: “Spiritual Discernment”.
(2:15) If I have spiritually
discerned everything I write here, am I therefore not subject to your or anyone
else’s scrutiny! I think this verse sounds a little self-serving.
(2:16) Who has known the
mind of the Lord? Christ, maybe? If we have the mind of
Christ, do we then know the mind of God? From what is Paul quoting?
MATTHEW 5:13-20
5:13-16
Have we heard these verse so many times that we cannot hear afresh? What
more can be said about salt and light? Do
these first century metaphors still speak to us today or do we to translate
them into new metaphors?
5:13 How does salt lose
its taste?
5:14 Why are cities
built on hills if they cannot be hid?
5:15-16 Is Jesus endorsing
bringing attention to one’s good works?
5:17-20
The usual formula is “the Law, the Prophets and the Writings”. Why are the Writings not mentioned
here? What does this and
the following verses have to do with the verses that preceded it? Do you sense there is no thematic
unity? What “law” or
“commandments” might Jesus have had in mind, only the Torah, or all the
Levitical laws?
5:19 Note
that even those who break laws and teach others to break laws will still be in
the kingdom of heaven.
5:20 Do
you think Jesus (and/or the early church) thought the scribes and Pharisees
were a little lacking when it came to righteousness? Speaking of righteousness, you might
want to revisit the First Reading and the Psalm and bring them into
conversation with Matthew
ADDENDUM
I am a Minister Member of Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and am serving as the Interim Pastor of the
Richmond United Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Ohio. Sunday Worship at Richmond
begins at 11:00 AM. Some of my other blog posts have appeared on PRESBYTERIAN BLOGGERS and The
Trek.
