Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, September 9, 2012, the Twenty-Third 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 - Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9,22-23

v. 1 What is the history and meaning of your name?  What name is above every other name?  What is “favor”?

v. 2 Is this ALL they have in common?

v. 8 Let the politicians beware.

vs. 22-23 This reads like a passage for the 99%

Psalm - Psalm 125:1-5

v. 1 How do you define trust?

v. 2 What is it about being surrounded by mountains that is good news?

v. 3 What is a scepter and what does it symbolize?

vs. 3-4 Is there a theology of reward and punishment informing this Psalm?

Second Reading - James 2:1-10 (11-13)14-17

v. 1 What “acts of favoritism” are being referred to?

v. 2-4 Have you ever witnessed any such thing?

v. 5-7 Some more Scripture for the 99%.

v. 8 Why is this law referred to as “the royal law”?

v. 11 This verse seems to me to get it backwards.

v. 12 What is “law of liberty”?

v. 14 Can faith save YOU?

v. 17 Faith, without works, might be dead.  But what are works without faith?

Gospel - Mark 7:24-37

v. 24 From where?  What do you know about Tyre?  Why did Jesus not want anyone to know he was in the house?

v. 25 How do post-modern, scientifically informed people of faith handle passages, like this one, that speak of “unclean spirits”?

v. 26 What difference does it make that she was a Gentile?  Of Syrophoenician origin?

v. 27 How do you react to the fact that Jesus said this?

v. 29 Why was her response rewarded?

v. 30 How could Jesus heal someone without that person even being present for laying on of hands?

v. 31 What do you know of Sidon?

v. 32 What sort of impediment do you imagine?

v. 33 Why in private?  Why put fingers in ears and touch tongues instead of laying on hands?

v. 34 What language is “Ephphatha”?  Where else in Scripture do we hear a world like this?

v. 36 What do you know about “the Messianic secret”?

v. 37 When was the last time you, or members of the congregation you are associated with, were astounded?

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.