Words 9.16

 Words Twice a Week        9.16

If you are more into listening than reading, Words Twice a Week is available, along with other good stuff, as a podcast from St Paul’s Episcopal Church.  Click here.

Some thoughts on some of the lectionary texts for this week – Proper 20

Proverbs 30.10-31

+ The Good Wife!  First and foremost, while we enjoy this reading, it is quite problematic.  It comes from a patriarchal culture, and places unrealistically high expectations on the wife, while her husband spends time (doing what?) with the elders at the gate.  The “Love People, Use Things” book encourages us to lower expectations but raise standards.  He notes John Wooden telling his players to spend less time looking at the scoreboard, and focus more on playing well.  So anyway, the Texts for Preaching book suggests it is “astonishing” that the passage is even in the lectionary!

+ it’s an acrostic, so there isn’t really too much in the way of structure.  Note that it is the second half of “an oracle” by King Lemuel’s mother.  Kind of like Polonius to Laertes!

+ one possible way is to identify Wisdom as the wife.  Wisdom has been personified through the book of Proverbs, and here at the end she is brought into the intimate relationship of wife. 

Psalm 1

+ I just love the first verse – happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or even worse, walk along with them, or still worse, sit down and settle in with them!

+ a life lived in indifference to God’s teaching, separated from the Law, will not end in happiness and well-being.

+ from Texts – the study of Torah is not just embracing rules; it is a playful, courageous interpretive act where the community must decide dimensions of God’s commands in new circumstances.  Again, the Love People book notes that life changes, what worked for us yesterday may not work for us tomorrow.  Where would you say some of the biggest issues of interpretation lie for us today – Abortion?  Sexuality?  Wealth inequality issues?  Political tribalism?  Climate?  Population?

+ “there is a moral shape to life in the world and those who ignore it, the wicked, are not so much “bad people”, they are simply inconsequential, like the chaff.”  You agree?  Love People suggests that on a long enough time line, pain is temporary.  Well, maybe….

+ who “stands” in the congregation of the righteous today?  Who do we listen to?  Who do we (try to, at least) ignore?

+ the tree standing by the water – powerful image in these drought weary times.

Jeremiah 11.18-20

+ kind of an odd little passage, in some ways.  Jeremiah says “I did not know it was against me that they devised schemes…”.  What did he think was going on?  Who do we see as “against us”?  Is it too much to read this in terms of anti-vaccination issues?

+ It has the nice line “like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter…”

+ Jeremiah commits his cause to the Lord.  What do we commit to the Lord?

+ How might this passage be heard by an Afghan interpreter trying to get out?

Mark 9.30-37

+ Jesus and the 12 are “on the way” – 1) on the way to Jerusalem and the crucifixion, and 2) modeling the life, the journey, of faithful discipleship.

+ note the focus in Jesus’ words is mainly on the suffering and crucifixion.  The resurrection is mentioned, but almost as an afterthought.  It fits the general theme of this gospel, which ends with the disciples silent and afraid.  That’s also where they are in this story!  How much of our attention is on the crucifixion, how much on the resurrection?  How many folks show up for Easter service as compared with those for Good Friday? 

+ “who is the greatest”, and what should they expect?  Preaching The Revised Common Lectionary notes a poll of tithers in a mainline denomination – 90% expected to “get something back – snappy sermons, rousing choral anthems, smooth pastoral visits, etc.”

+ even after their failure, Jesus continues to instruct those who are called and commissioned.

+ the disciples (often) find Jesus’ words baffling.  Are we so sure we understand them?  What would be some of his more confusing statements for you?

+ those who would be great must be servants, welcoming the powerless.  How well are we doing at that?  Who is missing from our picture?  Why?  Is there anything we could do about that?  Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty – are the poor ever going to show up in our church building or service?

+ How might this passage be heard by someone unemployed, homeless, hungry – especially with kids?

That’s what I got for now…..

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