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.
9:1 Who were those in
anguish? When was the former time? Where is the land of Zebulun and
the land of Naphtali and what is so special about these lands? When
might the latter time be? Who is “he”? Why is the sea associated
with Galilee?
9:2 Who walked in darkness
and lived in a land of deep darkness? Have you ever walked in the dark? What is
the nature of the great light that has shined?
9:3 Who is being addressed?
What does it mean to multiply the nation? I am a little troubled by the mention
of plunder.
9:4 Who is the “you” that
has broken these things? Who was the oppressor? What
happened “on the day of Midian”?
PSALM 27:1, 4-9
27:1 Who shall you fear and
of whom shall you be afraid? In my experience, fear can be a
crippling and paralyzing experience for congregations facing an uncertain
future and needing to change. The “light” of this verse explains why
this psalm was paired with the Isaiah reading (See Isaiah 9:2). When
read together, how does this Psalm enter into dialogue with the First Reading
and vice versa? Why does this verse remind me of Taizé?
27:4 A worthy petition,
don’t you think? Does living in the house of the LORD mean living in
the Jerusalem temple?Does this verse not express the desire of all Christian
mystics?
27:5 What might qualify as a
“day of trouble”? Being concealed under the cover of a tent and
being set high on a rock (for all to see) seem like a mixed
metaphor. As a backpacker, I really like the tent imagery, and as a
rock climber I like the rock imagery.
27:6 What does it mean to
have your head lifted up above your enemies? Does the “tent” in this verse
and in Psalm 27:5 allude back to the Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting before the
Temple was constructed?
27:7 This verse could be
used as a response in bidding prayer or as the opening petition in a prayer.
27:8 What can
happen to people who see the face of God? What does it mean to seek
God’s face? What does God’s face represent?
27:9 Why might God ever hide
the divine face, turn the servant away, and cast the servant off, and forsake
the servant?
1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-18
One problem with this
passage might be that we are too familiar with it and our preconceived notions
of what it says and means might get in the way of fresh
interpretations. On the other hand, readers may want to review Is Christ Divided: A Report Approved by the 200th General Assembly (1988), Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as
a lens through which to view and interpret this passage.
1:10 How does Paul
strengthen his appeal? Has he played the “Christ” card? Would Paul
be making these statements if there were not disagreements and divisions?
1:11 Who is Chloe and
Chloe’s people? Has Paul already taken sides by acting on a report from Chloe’s
people? Has Paul been triangulated?
1:12 Who was
Apollos? Who was Cephas? Have you ever heard talk in your particular
church approximating what Paul is describing here?
1:13 Are these rhetorical
questions presuming the answer “No”?
1:14-15 I think Paul, in
another letter, claimed to never have baptized. Even in this verse,
Paul does not seem to totally trust his own memory. Who were Crispis and
Gaius?
1:16 Why the parenthesis? Who
was Stephanas? What is the meaning of “household?” Might
this household have included children and infants?
1:17 On what basis is Paul
arguing that eloquent wisdom might empty the cross of Christ of its
power? Is Paul simply feigning humility? For generations after Paul,
Philosophy was considered the handmaiden to Theology. Where would
the Gospel be without philosophical reflection?
1:18 what do you make of the
juxtaposition of foolishness and the power of God?
MATTHEW 4:12-23
After an excursion into
the Gospel According to John, we are now back to a somewhat lectio continua
reading of Matthew.
4:12 Why did Jesus withdraw
to Galilee upon learning that John had been arrested. From where did
Jesus withdraw?
4:13 Apparently, Jesus
withdrew from Nazareth. What, if any, is the significance of
Capernaum? Are Zebulun and Naphtali the only reasons why the Isaiah
9:1-4 Reading appears in today’s Lectionary Readings?
4:14-16 Other than the
fulfillment of prophecy (See Isaiah 9:1-4), is there any other significance to
Capernaum? Does it sometimes seem like Matthew goes out of the way
to document fulfillment of prophecy? Why does Matthew 4:15-16 differ
slightly from Isaiah 9:2 in the NRSV? Does it matter?
4:17 Have fun unpacking
Jesus’ proclamation. How has the Kingdom of heaven come near?
4:18-19 How does this version
of the call of Simon and Andrew differ from last week’s account in the reading
from John 1:29-42? Why the difference?
4:20 Note the word
“immediately”. What is the meaning (or meanings) of “followed”?
4:21 Why might Jesus’ first
four disciples have been two sets of brothers?
4:22 Note another appearance
of “immediately.” What more do John and James leave behind compared to
what Simon and Peter left behind? What are we called to leave behind
when we follow Jesus?
4:23 Should we assume that
Simon, Andrew, James and John were “following” Jesus as he went through
Galilee. What is the “good news of the kingdom” and does it differ from “the
Gospel”? Is “every disease and every sickness” hyperbole?
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.
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