Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, February 26, 2012, the First Sunday in Lent (Year B)

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. 

First Reading - Genesis 9:8-17

v.8 God did not speak to the women?

v. 9 The Noahic, not  the Abrahamic covenant.

v. 10 What are the implications for an ecological ethic?

v. 11 Apparently God did not know about global climate change.

vs.12-13  And the name of this sign? Roy G. Biv!

v. 16 Does God really need a rainbow to be reminded of the covenant?

Psalm - Psalm 25:1-10

v. 1 I am used to hearing about the lifting up of the eyes.  I wonder how many instances there are of lifting up of the soul.

v. 2 What is more biblical, trusting in God or believing in God?

v. 6 This sounds like the psalmist is trying to remind a forgetful God.

v. 7 I guess it is all right for God to forget some things, like my sins, but not other things, like God’s mercy and 

steadfast love.

v. 10 What are the paths of the Lord for those who do not keep God’s covenant and decrees?

Second Reading - 1 Peter 3:18-22

v. 19 What spirits in what prison?

v. 20 Was this Second Reading selected in light of the First Reading, or vice versa? I compliment Paul on his theological creativity and seeing in the story of Noah a prefiguration of Christian Baptism.

v. 21 Not a removal of dirt, but what about sin?  Whose good conscience?

Gospel - Mark 1:9-15

v. 9 In what days?

v. 10 Who saw what?

v. 11 Who heard this?

v. 12 How many times in Mark do we find “immediately”?

v. 13 Why “forty days” and not “forty days and nights”?  How did the Angels wait on him?

v. 14 Why did Jesus not come to Galilee until after John was arrested?  What is the “good news of God”?

v. 15 What time is fulfilled?

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.