Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, September 16, 2012, the Twenty-Fourth 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,  http://summittoshore.blogspot.com/.

First Reading -Proverbs 1:20-33

v. 20 This passage seems to personify wisdom in the feminine, so why not use the original Greek “Sophia” rather than the English translation “Wisdom”?  This verse also seems to display the Hebraic poetic device of repetition.

v. 22 Does this verse contrast the simple with the wise?  Are the simple the same as scoffers and fools?

v. 23 Who is speaking?  Can all thoughts be expressed in words, or must some thoughts be expressed through non-lingual representative arts?  Does DaVinci’s Last Supper or Dali’s Last Supper say something about the Last Supper that words can not express?

v. 29 Is knowledge the same as the fear of the LORD?  Is knowledge the same as wisdom?

Psalm - Psalm 19:1-14

v. 1 The Astronomer’s Bible/Gospel!  What is a firmament?

v. 2. What is the relationship between speech and knowledge?

vs. 3-4 How does a voice go out through all the earth if it is not heard?

vs. 4b-6 How do you interpret and apply a passage that assumes a pre-Copernican three-tiered universe in a post-Copernican world?

v. 7 How did we transition from the heavens to the law?

v. 10 At the close of the market on Tuesday, gold was selling for $1,728.7/ounce.

v. 14 One of my personal pet peeves is that this verse should not be used as a public prayer by a preacher before the preaching of a sermon, ESPECIALLY after a Prayer of Illumination has already been prayed before the reading of Scripture.

Second Reading - James 3:1-12

v 1. Using PC(USA) nomenclature, is James referring to “Teaching” Elders in particular, Sunday School Teachers, or teachers of faith in general?

v. 2 How true!   Who, but Jesus, is perfect?

v. 3 What is the equivalent of a verbal bridle?

v. 4 Ahhhhhh, sometimes the will of the pilot is overcome by the wind, lack of piloting skill, poor equipment, etc.  I wish I could always guide my C&C 24 wherever I want it to go, but that is not always the case.

v. 5a The tongue not only boasts of great exploits but can take us places we never wished to go. 

v. 5b-6a I doubt the author had in minds the tongues of fire associated with Pentecost.

v. 6b But the same member that curses can also bless.  The same tongue that expounds hate can also verbalize love.

v. 7 I think this is not true.

v. 8 What do you think?

vs. 9-10 See my rumination for verse 6b.

v. 11 Not at the same time, but perhaps alternately.

v. 12 True, true, but what about reverse osmosis and distillation?

vs. 1-12 In the age of social media and the internet, is the tongue really the problem, or is it the mind that tells the tongue what to say and the fingers to type?

Gospel - Mark 8:27-38

v. 27 Was Caesarea a village and Philippi a village?  Like Minneapolis / St. Paul?  Who do people in our culture say that Jesus is?

v. 29 This is the question Jesus asks each and every one of us.  Who do you say Jesus is?  Does your answer depend on who is asking the question?

v. 30 Why the order not to tell anyone about him?  What do you know about “the Messianic Secret”?

v. 31 John the Baptist,  Elijah, one of the prophets, one Messiah, the Son of Man?  So many identities, titles, and names!  Why did Jesus refer to himself as the Son of Man?

v. 32 Why did Peter rebuke Jesus?

v. 33 Why did Jesus call Peter “Satan”?

v. 34 What does it mean to take up one’s cross?  What is your cross?

v. 35 This reads like a conundrum.

v. 36 Does this matter at all to a generation that is embracing YOLO?

v. 38 How was Jesus’ generation adulterous and sinful?

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.