Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, August 21, 2011, the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

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.) Lectionary Ruminations is also cross-posted on my personal blog, Summit to Shore.

Exodus 1:8-2:10
v. 8 The beginning of the Moses cycle/narrative. How might this verse describe the current nature of United States Politics?

vs. 9-11 Egyptian immigration policy?

v. 12 And the lesson is?

v. 15 Were Shiphrah and Puah the only two midwives? Were they Israelite of Egyptian?

v. 16 Why not the other way around?

v. 17 In thisw context, what does “fear God” mean?

v. 2 And if she saw that he was not a FINE baby?

v. 3 What else was once plastered with bitumen and pitch?

v. 6 How did she know?

v. 8 This sounds like a strange construction since this is the boys sister and thus his mother is also her mother.

v.10 Yes, this explains the name Moses, bit is there also some foreshadowing going on here?

Psalm 124:1-8
vs. 1-2a Sometimes when I begin a responsive reading and the response sounds shallow, hollow, and barely audible, I will repeat the call phrase of the call and repeat response. Might something similar be happening here?

vs. 2b-6 Why is a Psalm reflecting the Exodus paired with a First Reading about the birth of Moses?

v. 8 A familiar refrain.

Romans 12:1-8
v. 1 What is a “living” sacrifice? What is “spiritual” worship? Is there such a thing as unspiritual or spiritless worship?

v. 2 What is the difference between “conformed” and” transformed”? How are our minds renewed? Why does Paul write about the renewing of our minds rather than the renewing of our hearts?

v. 3 How do we measure our faith?

vs. 5-6 I understand the logic with the exception of the last phrase. How are weindividually members one of another?

v. 6 “We have gifts that differ” in the NRSV is “We have gifts differing” in the KJV, and the biblical phrase that inspired Myers and Briggs to title their book applying Jung’s type theory “Gifts Differing”. You may want to also look at 1 Corinthians 12.

Matthew 16:13-20
v. 13 Where did Jesus enter from? Is there anything special about the district of Caesarea Philippi? Why would Jesus ask his disciples this question? Does the average person in the pew or Bible Study have a clue about the baggage associated with “Son of Man” imagery?

v. 14 Apparently there were various views of who Jesus was. I guess times have not changed.

v. 15 The quintessential question. What is your answer?

v. 16 As usual, Peter is the first to speak up. Did he get it right, however, or did he stick his foot into his mouth?

v. 19 What are “the keys to the kingdom”? What does it mean to “bind” and “loosed”?

v. 20 Why would Jesus order his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah? Has this passage just equated “the Son of Man” with “the Messiah”?

ADDENDUM
In addition to serving as the half time Designated 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 our my WyzAnt  page and follow the appropriate links.