Queerying Narrative Lectionary 131

Pace Warfield-May queeries the Narrative Lectionary.

Matthew 18:15-35
Jesus said: "If your sibling causes you harm, speak to them alone about it. If you are listened to, you have rebuilt that relationship. ¹⁶But if you are not listened to, take one or two along with you so that every word you say can be supported by your witnesses. ¹⁷If that person refuses to listen to you and your witnesses, tell it to the church. If that person refuses to listen even to that church, that relationship is broken and you should sever ties. ¹⁸I tell you the truth: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you let go on earth will be let go in heaven. ¹⁹Again, I tell you this truth: if two of you agree about everything you ask, it will be done for you by my Parent in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am truly present among you."

Then Peter came and asked Jesus, "Teacher, if my sibling causes me harm, how often should I forgive them? Seven times?" ²²Jesus responded, "Not seven times, but I'm telling you seventy-seven times. ²³For this reason the kin-gdom of heaven may be compared to a slave master who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. ²⁴When he began the settling of accounts, the slave who owed him the equivalent of two hundred thousand days of labor was brought to him, ²⁵and, as he could not pay his master, the slave master ordered that slave to be sold together with his wife and children and all his possessions in order for the payment to be met. ²⁶So the slave prostrated himself before the master and said, 'Please, I beg of you, have patience with me. I will pay you everything I owe.' ²⁷And out of pity for him, the slave master released the debt that was owed. ²⁸But that same slave ran into one of his fellow slaves who owed him the equivalent of 100 days of work. He seized his fellow slave by the throat and said, 'Pay me all that you owe me.' ²⁹Then his fellow slave fell down and begged him, 'Please, have patience with me. I will pay you!' ³⁰But the first slave refused. Indeed, he threw the other slave in a prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹When the rest of the slaves heard about what happened they were very upset. They reported it to the slave master. ³²The slave master summoned the first slave back to him and said, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you that huge debt you owed me because I took pity on you when you pleaded with me. ³³Should you not have shown your fellow slave mercy, the way I showed you mercy?' ³⁴The slave master in anger handed him to be tortured until he could pay back the entire debt he owed. ³⁵So it will be with my Parent in heaven if you do not truly forgive your siblings from your heart."

Queeries for the text
What is this text building on?
What was skipped? What is the accompanying reading?
Where is this headed?
How have passages like this been used to justify slavery?
When is it okay to not forgive?
What does true forgiveness look like?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Advent 3B

River Needham, MA queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

The spirit of Becoming itself rests on me because the Becoming One has annointed me. She has sent me as a herald of good news to the humble, first aid to the injured, release to those in prison, liberation to those oppressed. To proclaim a year of the Becoming One's favor, and of God's vindication. Comfort for those who mourn, provisions for them, turbans instead of ashes and festive ointments instead of ashes. Clothing full of color and joy instead of sadness. They shall be trees of victory for the Becoming One. The ancient cities will be restored, so will the desolate villages. The renewed city and desolations will teem with life.

[....]

For I, The Becoming One, love justice and fair wages. I hate robbery with burnt offerings, so I pay wages regularly and fairly. I make a timeless covenant with them. Their offspring will be known among the nations, their children among many people. All those who see these children will know that the Becoming One has blessed them. 

I rejoice in the Becoming One, my whole essence celebrates my God because she clothed me with triumphant clothes and put a victor's robe on me. Like a groom wearing a turban or a bride wearing her finest things. As the earth fosters plant growth and a garden of seeds shoot up, so will Becoming itself make victory and renown emerge in the presence of all the nations.

Queeries for the text:

Who or What is Becoming itself?

What is first aid to the injured?
How do we release those in prison?

Where is the liberation in our world?
What text was left out?
What areas in Israel long for restoration? What are possible resolutions?
Where are fair wages lacking in the US?

How are plants and growth becoming signs of victory?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷John came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through the light. ⁸John himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 

...

¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Judeans sent clergy and leaders from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 

²⁰John confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 

²¹And they asked John, “What then? Are you Elijah?” 

John said, “I am not.” 

“Are you the prophet?” 

John answered, “No.” 

²²Then they said to John, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 

²³John said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Becoming One,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. 

²⁴Now they had been sent from the clergy. ²⁵They asked John, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 

²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of their sandal.” 

²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Queeries for the text:

What happens to witnesses?

What's missing?

Who questions prophets?

Who is not the Messiah?

To whom do you owe an answer?

What is John misquoting?

Who would want anything to be made straight?

Why do people baptize?

What else happens in Bethany?

What are your queeries?