Queerying 2nd after Epiphany B

River Needham, MA queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Young Samuel was in the service of the Becoming One under Eli. In those days the word of the Becoming One was rare; prophecy was not widespread. One day, Eli was asleep in his usual place; his eyes had begun to fail and he could barely see. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Becoming One where the Ark of God was. 

The Becoming One called out to Samuel, and Samuel answered, “I’m coming.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” 

But Eli replied, “I didn’t call you; go back to sleep.” So Samuel went back to lay down. 

Again the Becoming One called, “Samuel!” 

Samuel rose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” 

But Eli replied, “I didn’t call, my son; go back to sleep.”

—Now Samuel had not yet experienced the Becoming One; the word of the Becoming One had not yet been revealed to him.— 

The Becoming One called Samuel again, a third time, and he rose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” 

Then Eli understood that the Becoming One was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down. If you are called again, say, ‘Speak, Becoming One, for Your servant is listening.’” And Samuel went to his place and lay down. 

The Becoming One came, and stood there, and She called as before: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Queeries for the text:

Why was the word of the Becoming One rare? Why is the word of the Becoming One rare today? Where do we receive the word of the Becoming One today?
When were they sleeping? Why?
Who can sleep in God's temple? Which communities are they permitted in?

What is the significance to being called three times?
Does the Becoming One have a body? How?
 

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

 

Gospel: John 1:43-51

⁴³The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. Jesus found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

 

⁴⁵Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one about whom Moses in the Torah and also the prophets wrote: Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 

 

⁴⁶Nathanael said to Philip, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” 

 

Philip said to Nathanael, “Come and see.” 

 

⁴⁷When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, Jesus said of Nathanael, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 

 

⁴⁸Nathanael asked Jesus, “Where did you get to know me?” 

 

Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 

 

⁴⁹Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Divine One! You are the Ruler of Israel!” 

 

⁵⁰Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹And Jesus said to Nathanael, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the messengers of God ascending and descending upon the Human One.”

 

Queeries for the text:

The next day after what?

Where do we assume goodness comes from? Can anything good come out of any nation?

Where else do fig trees show up?

How do titles convey meaning? How can they contradict meaning?

What's so great about a fig tree?

Where else do messengers of God ascend and descend?

 

What are your queeries?

 

 

Queerying 19th after Pentecost A

Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to the religious leaders and elders in parables, saying: ²“The reign of heaven may be compared to a president who gave a wedding banquet for his child. ³He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 

⁴Again the president sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ ⁵But they made light of it and went away, one to their farm, another to their business, ⁶while the rest seized the slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. ⁷The president was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 

⁸Then the president said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ ¹⁰Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 

¹¹“But when the president came in to see the guests, he noticed a person there who was not wearing a wedding robe, ¹²and he said to them, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And the person was speechless. ¹³Then the president said to the attendants, ‘Bind them hand and foot, and throw them into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Queeries for the text:
To whom do we compare the reign of God?
Who would the president invite?
Who wouldn't show up? 
Who disregards the president?
Where are troops being sent? How are they destroying?
What happens when a ruler invites you somewhere?
Where is life?
What would happen if the people from the streets didn't want to go to the president's banquet?
Where is choice?

What are your queeries?