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.
vs. 21-31 This is one of the longer readings we have seen in a while. Note that it is not prose. How does that affect or influence your interpretation and application?
v. 21 Are these merely rhetorical questions?
v. 22 Who is “he”? I am surprised by “the circle” of the earth as I would have expected a flat earth with four corners.
v. 24 what are the “they”?
v. 26 What are the “these”?
v. 27 Is there any instance in Scripture of anyone speaking these words?
v. 28 I hear a refrain. This sounds like a confession of faith.
vs. 30-31 This is one of my favorite passages to read as part of a Service of Witness to the Resurrection.
v. 1 Why is it that some worshiping communities simply do not like to sing hymns and spiritual songs?
v. 2 Who are the outcasts of Israel?
v. 3 Are the brokenhearted and wounded the same people as the outcasts of Jerusalem?
v. 4 I wonder what God has to say about all the organizations that, for a small fee, will name a star after someone and register that name.
v. 5 A confession of faith as well as expression of praise.
v. 7 See my comments for v. 1
v. 9 I wish God would get up every morning to feed my dog so that I did not have to.
v. 10 So God is not a sports fan, or least not horse racing or track and field.
v. 11 What is the meaning of “fear”? Do you fear God?
v. 20c Always a good way to end a Psalm and in this case the last/ending line echoes the first/opening line.
v. 16 If? IF? IF? I can almost resonate with Paul’s assertion.
v. 18 How do “compensated” preachers handle this one?
v. 20 But Paul WAS a Jew!
v. 21 Who were outside the law?
v. 22 How did Paul become weak? Can anyone truly be everything to all people?
v. 29 Where did Simon and Andrew live?
v. 30 Simon was married? Were he and Andrew living with Simon’s in-laws or were Simon’s in-laws and Andrew living with Simon and his wife?
v. 32 ALL? Really? I think this is hyperbole.
v. 33 The whole city? All one thousand of them? Could this be another example of hyperbole?
v. 34 Is this verse an example of messianic secret of Mark?
v. 35 So Jesus was a morning person! Why pray in a deserted place?
v. 36 Who were Simon’s companions?
v. 39 What if Jesus had proclaimed the message but not cast out demons? What if he had cast out demons but not proclaimed the message? Must proclaiming the message and casting out demons go hand in hand?
ADDENDUM
In addition to serving as the half time 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 out my WyzAnt page and follow the appropriate links.
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