Lectionary Ruminations 2.5 for the 33rd 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.

ISAIAH 65:17-25

65:17 What is the quality of this “new?” I suggest it is not just a statement related to time. What is the difference between Chronos time and Kairos time? Why would former things not be remembered or come to mind? This verse reminds me of the conclusion of C.S. Lewis’ The Lasrtl Battle.

65:18 Note that God is “creating.”  How might Process Theology help us here? How is Jerusalem today a joy and its people a delight?

65:19 Is this a promise still unfulfilled?

65:20 While infant mortality has been addressed by modern medicine, modern medicine still has not raised the expected life span to one hundred years. Are we all accursed? Could this be hyperbole?

65:21 But where shall those houses be built? Shall they be built on Palestinian Arab land? Who today plants but does not eat the fruit of their planting?

65:22 Do these verses have anything to say regarding contemporary economics?  What might Henry Ford have to say about these verses? What might Karl Marx have said?

65:23 How might the current American economics and politics shed light on this verse?

65:24 Does this have any implication for our understanding of prayer?

65:25  Are you familiar with the paintings of Edward Hicks?

ISAIAH 12

12:1 Who will say this?  What day? Does the LORD experience the full range of emotions, or just anger?

12:2 Is this salvation any different than salvation in the New Testament? How is salvation from the LORD related to the LORD’s strength and might?

12:3 I love the “water from the wells of salvation” imagery. Note that “wells” is plural.  I wonder how many wells there are. I also wonder how this verse might inform Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well.

12:4 How can we call on the LORD’s name and proclaim that the LORD’s name is  exalted when the Lord’s name is not pronounced?

12:5 Is there a difference between “in all the earth” verses “over” or “on” all the earth?

12:6 What makes Zion royal? What does it mean for the Holy One of Israel to be in our midst?

2 THESSALONIANS 3:6-13

3:6 Who are “we?” What is idleness? What is the tradition the Thessalonians received?

3:7 What ought the Thessalonians be imitating?

3:8 Night and day? Is Paul prone to hyperbole?  In other letters, 1 Timothy 5:17-18 and 1 Corinthians 9:9.14 for example, Paul argues that church leaders deserve to be compensated.

3:9 Paul seems to be playing both sides here.

3:10 What does this have to do with the social safety net? I wonder how this was interpreted regarding the Lord’s Supper.

3:11 How, why, and from whom would Paul be hearing this? 

3:12 What is the real underlying problem here that Paul is addressing?

3:13 Who is to decide what is right?

LUKE 21:5-19

21:5 What do we know about those who were speaking about the temple? Do people ever speak this way about their church buildings?

21:6 Might this be an example of literary foreshadowing, an after the fact reading back into the past allusions to something that has already occurred in the present, such as the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD?

21:7 Is there any significance to the fact that Jesus is called “Teacher?” What is a “sign”?

21:8 What do we know about messianic pretenders during this time?  What might this verse be saying to us in our day?

21:9 I long for a time when I DO NOT hear of wars and insurrections.  I long to live in the age described by Isaiah in 65:25.

21:10When has this not been the case?

21:11 What is a portent? Are portents the same as signs? I think sometimes Christian Theology has a natural disaster problem.

21:12 I think this might be yet another example of literary foreshadowing, the Gospel writer interjecting back into the past knowledge of events that would come later than the time being written about, but which have already taken place by the time the Gospel was being written. Does this verse refer to persecution of Christians by both Jews and Romans?

21:13 When do we have an opportunity to testify?

21:14 Why not prepare a defense beforehand?

21:15 Does this and the preceding verse have any implications for homiletics?

21:16 There go family values.

21:17 This verse gives me no comfort.

21:18 What sort of “perish” are we talking about?  Christians would be killed because of their faith. Juxtapose this verse with 21:16.

21:19 Salvation by martyrdom?

                                                                  

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.

Lectionary Ruminations 2.5 for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 28 (Year A)

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.

JUDGES 4:1-7

4:1 Here we go again.  This is beginning to remind me of déjà vu all over again. How many times did the Israelites do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?  How many times do we? What was, and is, evil in the sight of the LORD?

4:2 Do the names of rulers, commanders, and place names add or detract from the narrative?

4:3 This is beginning to sound like a broken record.  How many times do we cry out to the LORD, asking the LORD to get us out of trouble we have gotten ourselves into?

4:4 What blasphemy, a female prophet!  With regard to any male prophet, how often are we told who their wife was?

4:5 Do you think the Palm of Deborah was known by that name in Deborah’s day? Too bad it was not a Bodhi tree. Why would the Israelites come to her for judgement?

4:6 How dare Deborah speak for God! I wonder how Barak felt taking orders from when those orders were given through a woman.

4:7 What is a Wadi and why does it matter?

PSALM 123

123:1 I thought God was enthroned on the cherubim.  Are the cherubim in heaven or in the Temple?

123:2 So God is a master and maid while we are servants and mistresses.  While the Israelites in the Judges passage cry to the LORD, the psalmist simply looks to the LORD.  Maybe those eyes were sad, droopy puppy dog eyes that the LORD simply could not resist.

123:3 To what contempt is the Psalmist referring? Is their neighbor’s contempt enough to elicit God’s mercy upon Israel?

123:4 To what scorn is the Psalmist referring? Are contempt and scorn synonymous?

1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11

5:1 What times and seasons? If nothing needs to be written to the Thessalonians about times and seasons then why does Paul bring it up?

5:2 Is this an example of chiastic structure:  “day lord / thief night”? What does Paul mean by “day of the Lord?”

5:3 Since I am of the male persuasion, I chose not to comment on this verse.  If there is anyone of the female persuasion out there who would like to comment, please do so.

5:4-5 There is a lot of “light” and “darkness” to keep track of in these verses. Beware of racial stereotypes. Can the Dead Sea scrolls help us put this passage into context?

5:6 Since the overriding metaphor is staying awake, why does Paul add “sober”?

5:7 What point is Paul trying to make? It must be night somewhere.

5:8 Does the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of salvation, change the metaphor?  Note that a breastplate and a helmet are entirely defensive rather than offensive. Have you ever heard of a type of prayer known in the Celtic tradition as a Lorica?

5:9 Why do my Reformed/Presbyterian ears perk up when I hear this verse?

5:10 Is Paul confusing his “sleep” metaphor and using it to mean more than one thing?

5:11 In other words, keep on keeping on.

MATTHEW 25:14-30

25:14 “It is as if” makes this what, a parable? Why do I have a problem with slave language?

25:15 What is a talent?  Does our English translation help us or leas us astray? Ability to do what?

25:16 This slave should have been a stock broker or banker.

25:17 A 100% return! Not bad.

25:18 What were the abilities of the first and second slaves?  What was the ability of the third slave? Had the man going on a journey misjudged the abilities of his slaves?

25:19 What is a long time and does it matter?

25:20, 22 What if he had made bad business decisions and lost some or all of the five talents?

25:21, 23 What does it mean to enter into the joy of a master?

25:24 Maybe the third slave said too much in addition to not doubling the talent.

25:25 How do we sometimes allow fear to cripple us?

25:26 Was the slave really wicked and lazy or just overly careful?

25:27 If we take this too literally, it begins to break down and seems illogical. After all, the man could have invested his money with bankers to begin with rather than entrusting it to his slaves.

25:28-29 Does the growing disparity between the rich and the poor impact how we might read and interpret these verses?

25:30 Have we heard anything like this before? Where?

                                                                  

ADDENDUM

I am a Minister Member of Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and am serving as the Pastor of the Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church, Wheeling, WV. Sunday Worship at Bethlehem begins at 10:45 AM. Here is Bethlehem United's Facebook address: https://www.facebook.com/Bethlehem-United-Presbyterian-Church-102482088303980

Lectionary Ruminations 2.0 for Sunday, November 15, 2015, the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

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

First Reading -1 Samuel 1:4-20

1:4 Who was Elkanah? He would give portions of what? Were Peninnah’s sons and daughters not also Elkanah’s sons and daughters?

1:5 Who was Hannah and how was she related to Elkanah?

1:6 Who was Hannah’s rival?

1:7 How many years might this have gone on?

1:8 How many wives did Elkanah have?  So much for family values!  How would most wives answer the Question Elkanah asked Hannah? I wonder how couples trying to conceive but have been unable to conceive hear this passage. I wonder how couples who are childless by choice hear this passage.

1:9 Who is “they” and why are “they” at Shiloh? Eli was what sort of priest in what temple?

1:10 What might have been Hanna’s prayer?

1:11 What is Hannah’s misery? Is there a problem with Hanna’s prayer?

1:12 Why was Eli observing Hanna’s mouth? Was he lip reading?

1:13 When you pray silently, do your lips move? Why would Eli have thought Hannah was drunk?

1:14 Read this in light of the First Christian Pentecost. I assume Eli never had a pastoral care course or CPE.

1:15 What does it mean to pour out one’s soul before the LORD?

1:16 Vexation is probably not a word we often hear, especially in a sermon.

1:17 How could Ely say this when he did not know Hannah’s petition?  Who or what gave Ely the right—the power—to answer prayer? Or was Eli simply but politely asking or telling Hannah to move on?

1:18 Were Eli’s words that powerful?

1:19 What do you know about Ramah?  Ya gotta love these Biblical euphemisms for sexual intercourse!

1:20 Why do many people no longer give their children names with personal, existential meaning?

Canticle - 1 Samuel 2:1-10

1:1 Did Hannah pray, or did Hannah sing?  Who said , paraphrasing, “the person who sings their prayer

prays twice”? When was the last time your heart exulted?

1:2 What, or who, do you think of when you hear the phrase “holy one”?

1:3-10 This sounds more like a sermon than a prayer. Are these words addressed to God?

1:6-7 So what?

1:8 What does the second half of this verse have to do with the first half?

1:9 This verse seems to echo 1:4-5.

1:10 How does this verse relate to the verses preceding it?

Second Reading - Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25

10:11 How are you like a priest? Why were sacrifices made daily?

10:12 What single sacrifice did Christ offer? See 1 Samuel 2:8.

10:12-13 What source or sources are being quoted? Does God have a footstole?

(10:15-18 Where did the Holy Spirit say this?)

10:19 What sanctuary?  Does the blood of Jesus give us confidence or is it a ticket of entry?

10:20 What curtain might this be alluding to?  How was Christ’s flesh like a curtain?  Think about that one long and hard! Is anyone else thinking about the final scene in The Wizard of Oz?

10:21 I find it interesting that we find “a great priest” rather than “a great high priest”!

10:22 How can hearts be sprinkled clean from an evil conscience?  Note that while hearts are sprinkled clean, our bodies are washed. What might “house of God” refer to? Are both sprinkling and washing an allusion to Baptism?

10:23 What is the confession of our hope?  What is our hope?  How do we confess it? Whwn have you ever wavered?

10:24 Is “provoke” the best translation of the Greek?

10:25  To what does this “meeting together” refer? I like to of encouraging one another rather than provoking one another. What “Day” is approaching?

Gospel - Mark 13:1-8

13:1 Who came out of the temple and what had he been doing in there?  This sounds like something a tourist to New York or other world class city says on their first visit.  Was this a particular disciple’s first visit to Jerusalem and the temple? I wonder why we are not told which disciple said this.

13:2 Is this prescient on the part of Jesus or a post AD 70 author writing with hindsight about an earlier event?

13:3 It was usually Peter, James and John who were privy to special moments with Jesus.  What is Andrew doing here?  Why two sets of brothers? How would the author know what the four asked? Did they all ask this in unison or was one of the four a spokesperson for the group?

13:4 Think again about the question I raised in relation to 13:2.

13:5 Who might have led them astray?

13:6 To whom was Jesus, or the writer of the Gospel, referring? How many messianic pretenders were there?

13:7 I think the key message is not to be alarmed.

13:8 Whew!  At least there is no mention of hurricanes, nor’easters, or blizzards.  What do birth pangs signify?  Is this describing the end of things as they are or the birth of something new? Must the old pass away for a new thing to emerge?

ADDENDUM
I am currently serving at the Interim Pastor of The Presbyterian Churchof Cadiz, worshiping at 154 West Market Street, Cadiz, Ohio, every Sunday at 11:00 AM. Please like The Presbyterian Church of Cadiz on facebook.