Queerying Advent 1 Year C - Luke

Luke 21:25-36
²⁵“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,

and on the earth distress among nations

confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

²⁶People will faint

from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world,

for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

²⁷Then they will see ‘the Human One coming in a cloud’

with power and great glory.

²⁸Now when these things begin to take place,

stand up and raise your heads,

because your redemption is drawing near.”

²⁹Then Jesus told them a parable:

“Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

³⁰as soon as they sprout leaves

you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.

³¹So also, when you see these things taking place,

you know that the reign of God is near.

³²Truly I tell you,

this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.

³³Heaven and earth will pass away,

but my words will not pass away.

³⁴“Be on guard

so that your hearts are not weighed down

with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life,

and that day catch you unexpectedly,

³⁵like a trap.

For it will come upon all who live

on the face of the whole earth.

³⁶Be alert at all times,

praying that you may have the strength

to escape all these things that will take place,

and to stand before the Human One.”

Queeries for the text:
What sort of signs will be in the sun and the moon and the stars?
Why are end times thought to be bad when the imagery is so positive?
What is distressing the nations today?
What is confusing us today?
What if we can't stand up or raise our heads?  How is ableism affecting this text?
What sort of time is Jesus talking about if the generation that "will not pass away" has passed away?
What sort of strength will we need?  What can we PrEPare for?
Where is Hope?

What are your queeries?



If you want to check out the sermon that came in part from this queery, you can find it here!

8th after pentecost year b - mark

Special thanks to River Needham for their queerying collaboration this week!
 
Mark 6:14-29

14King Herod heard of the disciples’ preaching,

    for Jesus’ name had become known.

    Some were saying,

         “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead;

              and for this reason these powers are at work in him.”

    15But others said,

         “It is Elijah.”

    And others said,

         “It is a prophet,

              like one of the prophets of old.”

    16But when Herod heard of it, he said,

         “John, whom I beheaded,

              has been raised.”

17For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John,

    bound him,

    and put him in prison on account of Herodias,

         his brother Philip’s wife,

              because Herod had married her.

         18For John had been telling Herod,

              “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

    19And Herodias had a grudge against him,

         and wanted to kill him.

              But she could not,

                   20for Herod feared John,

                        knowing that he was a righteous and holy man,

                   and he protected him.

    When Herod heard John,

         he was greatly perplexed;

              and yet he liked to listen to him.

         21But an opportunity came when Herod

              on his birthday

                   gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers

                        and for the leaders of Galilee.

              22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced,

                   she pleased Herod and his guests;

                   and the king said to the girl,

                        “Ask me for whatever you wish,

                             and I will give it.”

                        23And he solemnly swore to her,

                             “Whatever you ask me,

                                  I will give you,

                                       even half of my kingdom.”

                   24She went out and said to her mother,

                        “What should I ask for?”

                   She replied,

                        “The head of John the baptizer.”

25Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested,

    “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

         26The king was deeply grieved;

              yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests,

                   he did not want to refuse her.

27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard

    with orders to bring John’s head.

    The soldier went and beheaded him in the prison,

         28brought his head on a platter,

              and gave it to the girl.

                   Then the girl gave it to her mother.

         29When his disciples heard about it,

              they came and took his body,

                   and laid it in a tomb.

Queeries for the text:
Is Mark a Time Lord, experiencing everything as "a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey...stuff"?
How does life continue after death?
Is Jesus restricted to being just one of the roles people name? Does Jesus have to be any of them?
Is Herodias, the wife of Philip then Herod, trying to pull a Zeresh? 
How can celebration and death coexist?
Does Herodias, the daughter of Herodias and Herod, have PTSD from this experience?
Could Herod have put John's whole body on a giant platter alive instead of killing him?
Was Herodias' second marriage consensual?
Is it possible to be more dysfunctional than this family?

What are your queeries?