Queerying Easter 2A

Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Acts reading.

Acts 2:14a, 22-32
¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd in Jerusalem,

²²“You people of Israel, listen to what I have to say:
Jesus of Nazareth, one attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— ²³this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. ²⁴But God raised them up, having freed them from death, because it was impossible for them to be held in its power. ²⁵For David says concerning them, ‘I saw the Becoming One always before me, for They are at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; ²⁶therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. ²⁷For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your Holy One experience corruption. ²⁸You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

²⁹“You people and kindred, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that They would put one of his descendants on the throne. ³¹Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘They were not abandoned to Sheol, nor did their flesh experience corruption.’ ³²This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. ...

Queeries for the text:
What's missing?
When is this taking place?
How does God's "definite plan and foreknowledge" of the crucifixion comfort?  How does it disturb?
How might antisemitism be read into this text?  How does Peter's second naming of the crowd challenge that interpretation?
What is the difference between Sheol and Hades?
Is David saying the same thing two different ways?
Whose hands are outside the law?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Advent 1A

River Needham, queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In the days to come, the Mount of the Becoming One's House shall stand firm above the mountains and tower above the hills;
All the nations will gaze on it with joy. And the many peoples shall go and say:

"Come, let us go up to the Mount of the Becoming One, to the House of the God of Jacob; that She may instruct us in Her ways, and that we may walk in Her paths."

For instruction shall come from Zion, the word of the Becoming One from Jerusalem.
Thus She will judge among the nations and arbitrate for the many peoples, they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not take up sword against nation; they shall never again know war.

O House of Jacob! Come, let us walk by the light of the Becoming One.

Queeries for the text:
Where does this word start?
What images bring you joy?
How many words are present in this text?
Can land talk or teach?
What other people judge among the nations?
Where are tools of violence becoming tools of growth?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.
 
Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus said:
³⁶“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Child, but only the Parent. ³⁷For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Human One. ³⁸For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, ³⁹and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Human One.

⁴⁰Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. ⁴²Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Ruler is coming. ⁴³But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, they would have stayed awake and would not have let their house be broken into. ⁴⁴Therefore you also must be ready, for the Human One is coming at an unexpected hour." 

Queeries for the text:
Who is no one?
What kind of day and hour?
What arrives unexpectedly?
How do we know who is taken and who is left?
What thieves are coming today?
Who is eating and drinking today?
What flood is coming?

What are your queeries?