Monday, November 16, 2015

Lectionary Ruminations 2.0 for Sunday, November 22, 2015, Christ the King (Reign of Christ) Sunday (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

PREFACE:
This Sunday, Christ the King 2015, marks the end of “Year B” in the three year lectionary cycle..  Next Sunday, The First Sunday of Advent 2015, will be the First Sunday of the “Year C” in the lectionary cycle.

Are you familiar with “INRI” and what it means?

I cannot find the source of the quote to verify it but I think When John Adams was corresponding with King James, King James asked “Have you chosen a King yet? How can you have a country without a King?

Here are some other Kings: Nat King Cole, Martin Luther King, The Lion King, Michael Jackson – the King of Pop, Elvis Presley – the King of Rock and Roll. And remember “A man’s home is his castle and a man is king of his catle.”

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/devotion/revised-common-lectionary/2015/11/22/#first-reading
23:1 What is an oracle?  What is the significance of the fourfold designation, three of which relate to God? Read through this verse and the rest of the passage and see how many designations of God you find.
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 of this oracle only? How do you hear politicians and elected leaders today who claim to know God’s will?
23:2-3 The Spirit speaks “through” David but God speaks “to” David. Is this a description of David and his reign?
23:4 Is David touting his own horn, or laying the foundation for how future monarchs will be judge?
23:5 From a later perspective, how did David’s “house” measure up?
23:6 Ouch, those godless thorns
23:7 This sounds like last judgement language.

132:1 What hardships did David endure?
132:2 What did David swear? What did h vow?
132:3-5 Does this answer the previous two questions? 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. Does the LORD need to rest? What is the “ark of your might”?
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 with the “If”.
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”?
132:16 Will only the priest be saved?
132:17 What is a “horn”?  Is the horn the lamp?
132:18 This is quite a contrast between the anointed and his enemies.
132:1-18 In light of the history of the Nation of Israel and God’s people, including the Babylonian exile and the Shoah, how shall we read this passage?

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/devotion/revised-common-lectionary/2015/11/22/#second-reading
1:4b a Classic Christianized Greco-Roman Salutation. Who, or what, are the seven spirits?
1:5 How is Jesus a witness? Is Jesus the ruler of the kings of the earth now or only in the age to come?
1:6 How are Christians a kingdom of priests?  What is the difference between glory and dominion? Maybe this kingdom is not so much about the King as it is the people, more of a “kindom” than a “kingdom”.
1:7 Is there any significance to the admonition being “look” rather than “listen”?  Why will all the tribes of the earth wail? Does this verse mean the Christ will return only on a cloudy day?
1:8 Is there any difference between Alpha and Omega in contrast to first and last?

18:33 What headquarters; headquarters of what? Why was Pilot asking this question?
18:34 What sort of question is this?
18:35 Is Pilate’s first question a rhetorical one?  What has Jesus done? Does this verse bolster antisemitism?
18:36 This must have sounded rather cryptic and enigmatic. Where is Jesus’ kingdom from?
18:37 Was Pilates deduction correct?  Did Pilate really say that Jesus is a king?  What is “the truth”?

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.

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