Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, October 16, 2011, the Twenty-Ninth 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 may be linked to the NRSV via the oremus Bible Browser.) Lectionary Ruminations is also cross-posted on my personal blog, Summit to Shore.
 Exodus 33:12-23
vs.12-23 How would you categorize this conversation between Mosses and God?

v.12 Why does Moses think God will send someone with him?

v. 14 What is God’s “presence”? Is this the answer Moses might have been expecting?

v. 15 Is Moses challenging God?

v. 17 Moses gets his way!

v. 18 What is God’s “glory”?

v. 20 Why can no one look upon the face of God and live?

v. 23 So God basically “moons” Moses?

Psalm 99:1-9
v. 1 Why would the peoples tremble? What are cherubim and how does God sit enthroned upon them?

vs. 3, 5, 9 What does it mean to be “Holy”?

v. 5 God has a footstool?

v. 6Is this Psalm as much about Moses, Aaron, and Samuel as it is God?

v. 7 Why does God not speak like this any more.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
v. 1 It appears three people are writing this letter. What else do we know about Silvanus?

v. 2 Always? Constantly? Is this hyperbole?

v. 4 Who is “he”?

v. 5 What do power, the Holy Spirit, and full conviction add to the word?

v. 6 How did the Thessalonians imitate Paul, Silvanus, Timothy and Jesus?

Matthew 22:15-22
v. 15 Can you spell “conspiracy”?

v. 17 What trap is being set?

v. 18 What was their malice? Why are they hypocrites?

v. 19 What is the irony here?

v. 20 I suggest you consult some other translations of this verse. What are other options for the Greek translated here as “head”?

ADDENDUM
In addition to serving as the half time Pastor of North Church Queens www.northchurchqueens.org 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.