Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, June 10, 2012, the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (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. 

FirstReading - 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15)

My ruminations focus on 8:4-20.

v. 4 Why was Samuel at Ramah?

v. 5 What did the elders mean by saying ”your sons do not follow in your ways”?  Were the 

elders experiencing Kingness envy?

v. 6 Why did the elder’s request displease Samuel?

v. 8 Some peoples just do not change.

v. 9 Is this foresight or hindsight?

v. 11 The first military draft?

v. 13 Forget military conscription, this is sounding like slavery.

v. 14 Eminent domain?

v. 19 Of course the people did not listen to Samuel. People hardly ever listen to a prophet.

vs.  11-20 How do American Christians hear these verses in the midst of a presidential election year and the rhetoric of both The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street?

Psalm- Psalm 138:1-8

v. 1 What “gods”?

v. 2 What direction do you face when you give thanks to the LORD?

v. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise the LORD?  Who is this psalmist kidding?

v. 7 What is the symbolic meaning of God’s right hand (other than discrimination against left handed people)?

v. 8 To whom is this verse addressed?

SecondReading - 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

v. 13 Where is this quote from?

v. 15 Does this “your” refer to only Christians in Corinth or to a larger group?

v. 16 What is the outer nature and what is the inner nature?

v. 17 What is the “slight momentary affliction” to which Paul refers?

v. 18 How do we look at things that cannot be seen?  I want to default to Plato’s forms here.

v. 1 If Paul had been of a trade other than tentmaker, would he have employed a different metaphor?

Gospel- Mark 3:20-35

v. 20 When was the crown together before now?  Who could not eat?v. 21 Whose family?

v. 22 Who, or what, is Beelzebul?

v. 23 How did we get from Beelzebul to Satan?

v. 25 Who does Jesus think he is, Abraham Lincoln?

v. 29 What is “blasphemy” against the Holy Spirit and why does Jesus day this? Theologically speaking, can there really be an unforgivable, eternal sin if God chooses to forgive it?

v. 31 What bothers?

v. 32 What sisters?

v. 33 Is this a rhetorical question?

vs.  34-35 What sort of family values are being demonstrated here?

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.