Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, September 2, 2012, the Twenty-Second 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 - Song of Solomon 2:8-13

v. 8 Who leaps over mountains?

v. 9 Time for a stag party?  Whose wall?

v. 11 What is so special about the springtime?

v. 12 Whose land?

v. 13 I think we have a refrain.

Psalm - Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9

v. 1 What is a goodly theme?  Why the king?   Sometimes it is easier to speak than write.

v. 2 Who is speaking to the king?

v. 6 What is the significance and symbolism of the royal scepter?

v. 7 What is the oil of gladness?

v. 9 What is a lady of honor?

Second Reading - James 1:17-27

v. 17 I am beginning to appreciate Luther wanting to omit James from the canon.

v. 18 Who is “he”?

v. 19 Does the use of “beloved” in the NRSV justify pairing this reading with the First Reading?

v. 21 How do you understand the reference to “the implanted word”?

v. 22 While we can “hear” but never “do”, can we “do” without, in some sense, first, or at the same time, “hearing”?

v. 25 How does “the perfect law” function like a mirror?

v. 26 Does this verse invite a comparison of religion to spirituality?

v. 27 Is it possible to keep oneself unstained by the world without withdrawing from the world?

Gospel - Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

v. 1 If they came from Jerusalem, where did they come to?

v. 2 What does it mean for something to be defiled?

v. 3-4 In the NRSV, these two verses are in parenthesis.  Why?

v. 5 Was this an open ended question or one designed to trip up Jesus?

v. 6 Was Jesus over reacting?

v. 7 Is any worship ever in vain?    Are not all doctrines nothing but human precepts?

v. 8 Which commandment?

vs. 5-11 These verses could raise an interesting dialectic between our understandings of and reliance on scripture and tradition.  While Protestants might point to the Roman Catholic reliance on tradition as something alien to Protestantism, as I protestant, I readily confess that Protestant’s appeal to a tradition, but a tradition that is not canonized.

v. 14 What is the difference between listening and understanding?

v. 15 A young child recently asked me if it were a sin to poop?  I did not appeal to this text when I answered “no.”

vs. 21-22 What is the difference between intentions and actions?  Another interesting dialect might be a comparison between ontological and teleological ethics.  Does folly really equal murder in terms of evil intentions?

ADENDUM

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.