Lectionary Ruminations 2.5 for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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.

GENESIS 45:3-11, 15

45:3 Why did Joseph have to Identify himself to his brothers? Why were his brothers dismayed? What do people in the pews need to know about the narrative preceding this passage in order to understand it, make sense of it, and put it into context?

45:4 There are interesting family systems dynamics at work here.

45:5 Do you think Joseph’s brothers were truly angry with themselves?

45:6 How did Joseph know about the future?

45:7 What is the difference between a remnant and many survivors?

45:8 Does Joseph let his brothers off the hook?

45:9 Is Joseph bragging?

45:10 Why would Joseph want his family near him? Where was the land of Goshen?

45:11 Note that Joseph refers to “your” household, not “our” household.

45:15 Would Joseph’s brothers not talk with him until after he kissed them and wept upon them?

PSALM 37:1-11, 39-40

37:1 We might fret because of the wicked, but are we truly envious of wrongdoers?

37:2 How soon does grass fade? Consider Isaiah 40:7-8 as well as 1 Peter 1:24.

37:3 Is this a carrot or a stick? Does God reward doing good?

37:4 Do you take delight in the LORD? What are the desires of your heart?

37:5 Have you committed your way to the LORD?

37:6 What does it mean to be vindicated? Do you need to be vindicated?

37:7 Does being still before the LORD mean anything like contemplative prayer. This verse seems to echo 37:1.

37:8 This is the third occurrence of “fret!” See 37:1 and 37: 7.

37:9 What does it mean to be cut off?

37:10 How does feed into apocalyptic theology and eschatology?

37:11 A 99% verse! See Matthew 5:5.

37:39 Where else might salvation come from? Where else do people look toward for salvation?

37:40 How does one take refuge in the LORD?

1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-38, 42-50

15:35 You and I might be this “someone!”

15:36 Why “Fool!?”

15:37 Sowing be the best metaphor if dead bodies were not traditionally buried in the ground?

15:38 I wonder how much 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 informs Paul’s thinking here.

15:42 But in nature, what is sown is not imperishable.

15:43 Is this physical life nothing but dishonor and weakness? How does Paul know about what he is agreeing for?

15:44 What is the distinction between physical and spiritual? What is the difference between a physical body and a spiritual body?

15:45 Where is this written?

15:46 Why must the physical precede the spiritual?

15:47 Modern cosmology would say all life is stardust!

15:48 What point is Paul making here? I s Paul discounting the incarnation?

15:49 What is the etymology and meaning of “image?” Can, and do, Christians bear two images?

15:50 I think Paul is now making more sense. If this is true, why do some go to great lengths to make dead bodies look like they are still alive and just sleeping?

LUKE 6:27-38

6:27 Are you listening? What sort of enemies was Jesus talking about?

6:28 What is the relationship between blessing and prayer?

6:29 What does being struck on the cheek symbolize? What is the difference between a coat and shirt?

6:30 Has Christianity historically encouraged begging like other religions have?

6:31 Sound advice. Who loves you and whom do you love?

6:32 Who loves you and whom do you love?

6:33 Who does good to you and to whom do you do good?

6:34 What has been the historically Christian attitude toward lending and the charging of interest?

6:35 A recap! Are Christians to do these things so that they will be rewarded?

6:36 What does it mean to be merciful?

6:37 It seems the church has often been quicker to judge and condemn than to forgive.

6:38 What is a “measure?”

                                                                  

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.