Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, October 31, 2010, the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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 are linked to the NRSV via the oremus Bible Browser.)


Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
1:1 Is “oracle” technical term? Notice Habakkuk “saw” the oracle rather than “hearing” or “receiving”.

1:2 How many times have we felt like Habakkuk?

2:1 Was Habakkuk really a guard/watchman, or is he simply employing figurative language? Does “he” refer to the LORD?

2:2 Now we have a “vision” rather than an “oracle”.

4: 4 This verse preaches. Who were the proud and who were the righteous of Habakkuk’s day? In our day?

Psalm 119:137-144
v. 137 Was this verse and its ability to comment on Habakkuk 1:4 and 2:4 the reason why this Psalm appears today? Note all the following synonyms for “judgements”.

v. 139 How does zeal consume?

v. 144 Understanding = life?


2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
v. 1 So who is the real author of this letter?

v. 2 Classic Christian salutation, which combines Hebrew and Greek elements.

v. 3 Butter them up.

v. 4 What have been their persecutions and afflictions?

v. 11 How does God make us worthy of his call?

Luke 19:1-10
v. 3 Is there a difference between trying to see Jesus and trying to see who Jesus was?

v. 5 How did Jesus know his name?

v. 6 Should we read more into “he was happy to welcome him” than first meets the eye?

v. 8 What motivates Zacchaeus?

v. 9 Realized eschatology? Could “house” also mean “household”or “family”?

v. 10 Does this assume Zacchaeus was a Jew? What if he had not been?

v. 11 How do most people in the pews or classroom hear “Son of Man”?

ADDENDUM
Happy All Hallows Eve.  How many of you will be wroshiping again tomorrow to observe All Saints Day?