Thursday, December 20, 2012

Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, December 23, 2012, the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)


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

5:2 What is the meaning of “Bethlehem”?  What is the significance, or insignificance, of Ehhpratah?  What sort of origin is from of old? When were ancient days?

5:3 Who is giving up?  Who is being given up?  Who is in labor?  Whose kindred shall return?

5:5a What does it mean to be “the one of peace”?

1:46b What is the first word in the Latin Vulgate translation of this verse?  How does one’s soul magnify the LORD?

1:48 What is the nature of this lowliness?  What does it mean to be called blessed?

1:50 What is the nature of this fear?

1:51 What does “in the thoughts of their hearts” mean?

1:54 What is the meaning of “in remembrance of his mercy”?

1:55 What promise is being referred to?

10:5 What came before this “consequently”?  Is it not essential to the argument?  Where did Christ say the following?  What body has been prepared?  What, or where, is the scroll of the book?

10:9 The “first” and the “second” refers to what?

10:10 Does this verse presume, or require, any specific theory of the atonement?

1:39 What days were those days?  Why did Mary go with haste?

1:40 Why did Mary not greet Zechariah?

1:41 What is the meaning of the child’s leaping?  Was it the child’s leaping that filled Elizabeth with the Holy Spirit?  If not, when was she filled?

1:44 How did Elizabeth know it was joy and not some other emotion?

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.

I have been posting Lectionary Ruminations to Presbyterian Bloggers for nearly three years.  I will attempt to continue posting through the Scripture Readings for February 10, 2013, Transfiguration of the Lord.   I may continue posting Lectionary Ruminations to my personal blog,   Summit to Shore but not here.  If you have been following these posts, please migrate over to my personal blog.

Here is a link to a prayer I wrote and used last Sunday, December 16, in in response to the violence at Newtown.

No comments:

Post a Comment