Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, May 13, 2012, the Sixth Sunday of Easter (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. 

FirstReading - Acts 10:44-48

v. 44 How does the Holy Spirit fall?  Does hearing refer to physical or spiritual phenomena, or both?

v. 45 When was the last time someone in your worshiping community was astounded?  What is the gift of the Holy Spirit and how is it poured out?

v. 45 What was more astounding, the people speaking in tongues, or the people extolling God?

v. 46 Is this a rhetorical question?

v. 48 How do we reconcile baptism in the name of Jesus Christ with Trinitarian baptismal formula?

Psalm- Psalm 98:1-9

v. 1 What is a new song?  Are old songs not good enough?  How can we talk about God’s right hand and holy arm without over anthropomorphizing God?  Is this a right hand conspiracy?

v. 2 How has the LORD revealed vindication?

v. 3 I think this is hyperbole, or wishful thinking, on the Psalmist’s part.

v. 4 What sort of noise is joyful?  Does “all the earth” refer only to human beings or to all living creatures? Could “all the earth” also refer to waterfalls, wind, the sound of waves against the beach,

etc?

vs. 5-6 What?  No organ?  No piano?

v. 7 I think my question raised by the fourth verse was just answered.

v. 8 I have heard floods literally clap, but I have never heard hill literally, only metaphorically, sing.

v. 9 Will God judge all the earth, or only human beings?

SecondReading 1 John 5:1-6

v. 1 Is it also true that every one born of God believes that Jesus is the Christ?  Id being “born of God” the same as being born anew, or born from above?

vs. 1-2 Note the transition from the singular “child” to the plural “children”.  To what commandments is the author referring?

v. 4 What is the meaning of “conquer”?  What is the meaning of “faith”?

v. 5 Is there a difference between believing and  saying that “Jesus is the Son of God”?

v. 6 To what is the author referring when writing about “water and the blood”?  How does the “Spirit” testify?  What does the author mean “the Spirit is the truth”?

GospelJohn 15:9-17

v.9 Who is speaking?  How does one abide in anyone’s love?

v. 10 Whose commandments?  What are these commandments?  If we keep the Son’s commandments, can we then ignore the Father’s commandments?

v.11 Is your complete?

v. 12 Is this the answer to my question raised in relation to verse 10?

v. 13 What does it mean to lay down one’s life?

v. 14 So this friendship is conditional?

v. 16 This is sounding very Reformed!  The Father will give us whatever we ask only if we bear everlasting fruit?

v. 17 I heard only one command in verse 12, so why the plural?

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.