Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, June 17, 2012, the Eleventh 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. http://summittoshore.blogspot.com/

First Reading - 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

v. 34 Is the anything significant about Ramah or Gibeah?

v. 35 Who is “he”, the LORD or Samuel?  Imagine that, the LORD was sorry! 

v.  2 So the LORD instructs and helps Samuel construct a ruse?

v.  3 Is this why the LORD instructed Samuel to fill his horn with oil?

v.  4 Why were the elders of Bethlehem trembling?

v.  5 Was Jesse one of the elders?  Were his sons? In this context, what does it mean to be 

sanctified?

v. 6-7  Things are not always as they seem.  In both ecclesiastical and secular settings, the person who most looks the part is not always the person the God has chosen.  Nevertheless, they are still the person chosen, hired, elected or called.  In this case, however, not so! Lesson learned?

v. 10 Should we associate any symbolic significance to the number seven?

v. 12 What are the various alternate translations of this verse?

v. 13 Would the spirit of the LORD not have come upon David if Samuel had not anointed him? Note that David is not named until after he is anointed!

Psalm- Psalm 20

v. 1 To whom is the Psalmist writing?  Does the reference to God’s name serving as protection suggest that God’s name was understood by some as having magical properties?

v. 2 What sort help and support might be imagined?

v. 3 What is the difference between an offering and a sacrifice?

v. 4 What if the heart’s desire and plans are not according to God’s will?

v. 5 I wonder what these banners looked like.  I doubt if they looked like the liturgical 

banners some churches display.

v. 6  What does God ever do with the left hand, if anything?

vs. 7-8 Let this verse be a warning to those advocating for increased spending on defense and who claim that a nation’s security is directly related to the size of its armed forces.

v. 9 Who is “us”?

SecondReading - 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17

v. 6 Why must we be away from the Lord while at home in the body?  Can modern Christians read this without help from Descartes?  How can we read it as first Century Christians would have read it?

v. 10 Does this suggest a work’s righteousness?

v. 11 What is the fear of the Lord and who does one know it?

v. 12 What is this verse about?

v. 13 What is Paul’s logic?

v. 17 Even though I agree with it, this is a pretty bold statement.  Does it logically flow from what precedes it?

Gospel- Mark 4:26-34

v. 26 I love the kingdom sayings (parables), even though I do not fully understand them, sort of like the person who does not know how seeds that were scattered take root and grow.

v. 29 This sounds as though reaping is a good, not a grim, undertaking.

v. 30 Not just any seed, but a mustard seed.

vs. 30-32 So, don’t judge a book by its cover, or a seed by its size, or a son of Jesse by his age.

v. 33 “The Word”?  How able are we to hear it?

v. 34 So why did the disciples often appear not to get it?

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.