Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, July 22, 2012, the Sixteenth 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. 

First Reading - 2 Samuel 7:1-14a

v. 1 Who deserves credit for the Peace of David’s later reign?

v. 2 What does the ark of God symbolize?

v. 3 What does David have in mind?

v. 4 What does it mean when “the word of the LORD” comes to a person?  Why does this mostly happen at night?

vs. 5-12 What political, theological, or other reason can you think of to justify the LORD not permitting David to build a house for the ark?  How many organizing pastor’s are not around when a congregation builds its first physical plant?

vs. 13-14a Of whom is the LORD talking?

Psalm - Psalm 89:20-37

v. 20 What is the difference between ordinary, common oil and holy oil?

v. 24 What is a horn?

v. 26 Is this a familiar cry?

v. 28 see verse 24.

v. 29 From an historical perspective, has God kept these promises?

v. 30 Children in the biological, or the metaphorical sense?

v. 36 Really?

vs. 20-37 How can a faithful Jew  or Christian, read these verses in light of the destruction of the second temple, the holocaust, etc., and not think the LORD has not lived up to divine promises?

Second Reading - Ephesians 2:11-22

v. 11 Who calls Gentiles “the uncircumcision”? Who calls “the circumcision” by that name?  Is Paul coining these phrases or quoting others?

vs. 12-13 Why only “Christ” in verse 12 but “Christ Jesus” in verse 13?

v. 14 How has Christ broken down the dividing wall of hostility?  What was the dividing wall of hostility?  I can not but help read this verse in light of the walls Israel has erected between Jewish and Palestinian neighborhoods.  How has the institutional church erected its own dividing walls?

vs. 15-16 Is there a difference between one new humanity and one humanity being engrafted into another?

vs. 17-18 If there is now a new humanity, why does Paul write as if there were still two?

v. 20 Us there any theological or rhetorical connection between the :household” in this verse and the “house” in the First Reading?

v. 22 Note that in the NRSV it is “a holy temple in the Lord”, not “of the Lord”.  I am really beginning to think we ought to interpret this passage through the interpretive lens of the First Reading.

Gospel - Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

v. 30 What do you think they had done and taught?  What have you done and taught?

v. 31 The first Leaders’  Retreat?

v. 32 was the boat the deserted place or did they travel by boat to a deserted place?  Over the past two years I have become a sailor and regularly sail for up to five to seven hours at a time a twenty-four foot sailboat.  Although I do not (yet) sail alone, these sails are often retreat like in nature.  I do not need to sail to a deserted place.  The sailboat is my deserted  place.

v. 33 Sailing is often a slow way to travel, especially in a light wind or against a wind and/or current.  It is not hard for me to envision a group of people walking to a place faster than one could sail to it.

v. 34 What are sheep like without a shepherd?

v. 53 Is “crossed over” merely a geographical reference or a metaphor for something else?

v. 56 There are marketplaces in/on farms?  Is there anything special about the fringe of a cloak?  What other Gospel story does this remind you of?  Can you recall any hymn employing “fringe” imagery?  Maybe we can repeal Obama’s healthcare reform, along with Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance and just issue sick people some fringe to touch.

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.