Sunday, June 28, 2015

Lectionary Ruminations 2.0 for Sunday, July 5, 2015, the Fourteenth 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

5:1 All the tribes, or representatives of all the tribes?  Why Hebron?
5:2 Could someone be putting words into their mouths?
5:3 Is this the only instance of a covenant not involving God, or does making a covenant btween people before God count as involving God?
5:4 According to the US Constitution, David would have been five years too young to be President of the United States.
5:5 Why did David firt rule from Hebron and then later move to Jerusalem?
5:9 what was the condition and status of Jerusalem before David took up residence there?
5:10 Did David become more powerful because the God was with him or did people think God was with him because David was becoming more powerful?

48:1 Where is the city of our God? What is God’s holy mountain?
48:2 What and where is Zaphon? Who is the great king?
48:3 Is there a difference between a citadel and a fortress?
48:4 What kings and what alliance are being referred to?
48:5 What does “her” refer to? Could this verse be alluding to the siege of Tiglath-Pileser?
48:6 I would appreciate some women commenting on the simile.
48:7 Were ships of Tarshish ever shattered?
48:8 The United States has never really had a religious center or religious capital. What about other countries?
48:9 Do you ever ponder? Do you ever meditate in the sanctuary?
48:10 Another slight toward left-handedness?
48:11 Compared to Jerusalem are all other habitation mere villages?
48:12 How many towers were around Zion?
48:13 What is the difference between a rampart and a citadel?
48:14 I would have expected “defender” rather than “guide”.

12:2 This must be one of the stranger and more bizarre verses in the New Testament.  Have you ever had an out of the body experience?  How many heavens are there? Could this autobiographical?
12:3 Are you losing track of what Paul knows and does not know?
12:4 How does Paul know this?
12:5 Why would Paul boast about someone like he has just described?
12:6 Has Paul just tooted his own horn?
12:7 What surprisingly great revelations is he referring to? What do you make of this thorn?  Why did Paul think this thorn was a messenger of Satan?
12:8 Only three times? Did Paul not have faith that it would be taken away?
12:9 So Paul will not boast about his greatness but rather his weakness. I think he I still boasting. Might he also be seeking pity?
12:10. Poor Paul. He asking for a pity party?

6:1 Jesus left where? Where was his hometown?
6:2 When was the last time anyone was astounded by your teaching?  How would YOU answer the questions asked in this verse?
6:3 You mean Jesus was not an only child?  That his brothers but not his sisters are named is an example of the patriarchy of the times.
6:4 What prophets might Jesus have been referring to?
6:5 As if laying your hands on a few people and healing them is something minor.
6:6 Whose lack of faith?
6:7 Why two by two?
6:8-9 Why these instructions?  How could they be expected to accomplish their mission without any provisions or a building and/or sanctuary? Was Jesus sending them out to be beggers?
6:11 Enacting this verse can be quite cathartic. Believe me, I know!
6:12 Was this preaching any different than the preaching of John the Baptizer?
6:13 Why do Presbyterians not do more anointing with oil? Why do Presbyterians generally not drive out demons?

ADDENDUM

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

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