Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, April 29, 2012, the Fourth Sunday of Easter (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 - Acts 4:5-12

v. 5 What happened the day before?  Who are “they” of the “their”?

v. 6 Annas and Caiaphas I am familiar with.  Who are John and Alexander?

v. 7 What prisoners?  Did what?

vs. 8-10 Peter’s response might have been better received if he had not accused his interlocutors of crucifying Jesus.

v. 11 What is Peter quoting, or quoting from?

v. 12 This sounds like confessional language.

Psalm - Psalm 23:1-6

vs. 1-6 Is this Psalm too familiar for us to hear it anew?

v. 1 Note that in the NRSV, LORD is all uppercase.  So what?

v. 2 Have you ever lied down in a green pasture?

v. 4 What is the darkest valley you have ever walked through?  Are a rod and a staff two different things or is this an example of Hebraic poetic repetition?

v. 5 Have you ever eaten a meal in the presence of your enemies?  Has your head ever been anointed with oil?

v. 6 What and where is the house of the LORD?

Second Reading - 1 John3:16-24

v. 16 Who is “he”?  What  does it mean to lay down one’s life?

v. 17 Ouch!  Here is a verse for the 99% of Occupy Wall Street.

v. 18 Why the moniker “little childen”?

v. 19 Considering verse 16, it is beginning to sound like “truth” is being personified.

vs. 20-21 It sounds like one’s heart is the same as one inner voice or conscience.

vs.23-24 Where have I heard something like this before?

Gospel - John 10:11-18

v. 11 And which Psalm are you know thinking of?

v. 12 Who is the hired hand?

v. 16 I love this verse and its invitation to think about Christian universalism.  What does it mean for there to be many folds in one flock?

v. 17 Does the Father NEED a reason to love the Son?

v. 18 What command?

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.