Queerying Easter 3B

Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Acts reading.

 

 

First Reading: Acts 3:12-19

¹²When Peter saw people running to the throuple, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made the person walk? ¹³The God of Abraham, the God of Rebecca, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified Zer servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. ¹⁴But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, ¹⁵and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁶And by faith in Their name, Their name itself has made this person strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given this person this perfect health in the presence of all of you. 

 

¹⁷“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸In this way God fulfilled what Ze had foretold through all the prophets, that Zer Messiah would suffer. ¹⁹Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out..."

 

Queeries for the text:

What did Peter see and do?  Why is Peter talking to his own community?

Who do we make walk? 

Who else are our ancestors? 

Who handed Jesus over?  Who bears responsibility?  What was Peter up to at the time?

How does naming give strength?

How do we act in ignorance?  Who acts in ignorance? 

Of what do they need to repent?  Who does NOT need to repent?

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Guest queerier, Pace Warfield-May, queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Luke 24:36b-48, Luke 24:13-49 for context

¹³Now on that same day two members of Jesus’ chosen family were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵While they were kiki-ing, Jesus Themself approached and went with them, ¹⁶but the eyes of the two chosen family members were prevented from recognizing Them. ¹⁷And They said to them, "What words are you kiki-ing with each other about while you saunter along?" The two stopped in their tracks, looking like they were in mourning. ¹⁸Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered Them, "You alone must be the only tourist in Jerusalem who does not know what happened?"

¹⁹Jesus asked the chosen family members, "What things?" 

The two replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰and how the rulers and chief religious leaders of our own people handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹But we had hoped that he was the one to liberate Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²²Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the grave early this morning, ²³and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him."

²⁵Then Jesus said to the two of them, "For fuck’s sake! How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to trust all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶Was it not necessary that the Anointed One should suffer these things and then enter into Their glory?" ²⁷Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, They interpreted to them the things about Themself in all the scriptures. ²⁸As they came near the village to which they were going, They walked ahead as if They were going on. ²⁹But they compelled Jesus, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So They went in to stay with them. ³⁰When They were at the table with the two, They took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Them; and They vanished from their sight. ³²They said to each other, "Were not our hearts lit on fire within us while They were talking to us on the road, while They were opening the scriptures to us?"

³³That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴They were saying, "The Leader has risen indeed, and They have appeared to Simon!" ³⁵Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how Jesus had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. ³⁶While they were kiki-ing about this, Jesus Themself stood among them and said to them, "Peace and wholeness be with you."

³⁷They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸Jesus said to Their chosen family, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." ⁴⁰and when They had said this, They showed them Their hands and Their feet. ⁴¹While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, They said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" ⁴²The chosen family gave Them a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and They took it and ate in their presence. ⁴⁴Then They said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."

⁴⁵Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and They said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Anointed One is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in Their name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Caretaker promised; so stay here in the city until you have been bedazzled in the power from on high.”

Queeries for the text:
Is Jesus a zombie, ghost, vampire, or other supernatural being?
Why were the disciples afraid and in doubt?
How does one disbelieve and wonder in joy?
What does bedazzlement from on high look like?
How would you react to seeing someone you thought had died?
How does the Road to Emmaus impact the story?
How do you witness justice, repentance, and forgiveness of sins?

What are your queeries?