Lectionary Ruminations for for Sunday, November 25, 2012, Christ the King (Reign of Christ) Sunday (Year B)

Posted each Thursday, Lectionary Ruminations focuses on the Scripture Readings, taken from the New Revised Standard Version, for the following Sunday per the Revised Common Lectionary. Comments and questions are intended to encourage reflection for readers preparing to teach, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are invited and encouraged. All lectionary links are to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible via the PC(USA) Devotions and Readings website, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead. (Other references may be linked to the NRSV via the oremus Bible Browser.) 

This Sunday, Christ the King 2012, marks the end of “Year B” in the three year lectionary cycle..  Next Sunday, The First Sunday of Advent 2012, will be the First Sunday of the “Year C” in the lectionary cycle.

Because Thanksgiving is a holiday, I am posting Lectionary Ruminations a day early this week.

FirstReading - 2 Samuel 23:1-7

23:1 What is an oracle?  What is the significance of the fourfold designation, three of which relate to God?

23:2 Prior to any Christian doctrine of the Trinity, how did David understand and mean to use “Spirit”  Is David describing a continual state of affairs, or the situation this oracle only?

23:2-3 The Spirit speaks “through” David but God speaks “to” David.

23:4 Is David touting his own horn, or laying the foundation for how future monarchs will be judge?

23:4 From a later perspective, how did David’s “house” measure up?

Psalm - Psalm 132:1-12(13-18)

132:1 What hardships did David endure?

132:3-5 Did David keep his word?

132:6 Is there anything particularly significant about Ephrathah or the fields of Jaar?

132:7 Whose dwelling place and whose footstool.

132:8 This makes it sound like the LORD is a localized, place-significant LORD.

132:10 Must David and the Lord’s anointed be one and the same?

132:11 How many sons did David have?

132:12 This sounds conditional.

132:13 What is the meaning of the word “Zion” and where did the word originate?

132:14 Read this in light of verse 8.

132:15 What are its “provisions”?

132:17 What is a “horn”?  Is the horn the lamp?

132:18 This is quite a contrast between the anointed and his enemies.

Second Reading - Revelation1:4b-8

1:4b a Classic Christianized Greco-Roman Salutation. Who, or what, are the seven spirits?

1:6 How are Christians a kingdom of priests?  What is the dirrefence between glory and dominion?

1:7 Is there any significance to the admonition being “look” rather than “listen”?  Why will all the tribes of the earth wail?

1:8 Is there any difference between Alpha and Omega in contrast to first and last?

Gospel - John 18:33-37

18:33 What headquarters; headquarters of what?

18:34 What sort of question is this?

18:35 Is Pilate’s first question a rhetorical one?  What has Jesus done?

18:36 This must have sounded rather cryptic and enigmatic.

18:37 Was Pilates deduction correct?  Did Pilate really say that Jesus is a king?  What is “the truth”?

ADDENDUM

In addition to serving as the half time Pastor of North Church Queens and writing Lectionary Ruminations, I also tutor part time.  If you or someone you know needs a tutor, or if you would like to be a tutor, check out my WyzAnt  page and follow the appropriate links.