Queerying 2nd after Epiphany

This week, we're dedicating Queerying The Text to the memory of the Rev. Gordon Straw. Rev. Straw, an enrolled member of the Brothertown Indian Nation and an ever-growing force in Lutheran theological education, influenced both of us: Emily as a mentor and colleague and River as a professor and trusted mentor. You might notice Rev. Straw's influence flowing through our Queeries this week.

-Emily and River

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Periodic queerier, River Needham, queeries the reading from the Tanakh.

Tanakh: Isaiah 62:1-5
For the sake of Zion I will not be silent,

for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still,

till her victory emerge resplendent and her triumph like a flaming torch.

Nations shall see your victory, and every ruler your majesty;

and you shall be called by a new name

which the Becoming One herself shall bestow.

You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Becoming One,

and a royal diadem in the palm of your God.

Nevermore shall you be called “Forsaken,”

Nor shall your land be called “Desolate”;

But you shall be called “I delight in her,”

and your land “Espoused.”

For the Becoming One takes delight in you, and your land shall be espoused.

As a youth espouses a maiden, your sons shall espouse you;

and as a bridegroom rejoices over their bride,

so will your God rejoice over you.

Queeries for the text:
Who is Jerusalem fighting?
Where else might we use flaming torches today?  How are flaming torches harmful?
Which nations are treated unfairly today?
How are new names important?
What is a diadem?
Who is desolate, or has been forsaken? How does God delight in them?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the reading from the Gospel.

Gospel: John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee,

and the mother of Jesus was there.

²Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

³When the wine gave out,

the mother of Jesus said to him,

“They have no wine.”

⁴And Jesus said to her,

“Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?

My hour has not yet come.”

⁵Jesus' mother said to the servants,

“Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶Now standing there were six stone water jars

for the Jewish rites of purification,

each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

⁷Jesus said to the servants,

“Fill the jars with water.”

And they filled them up to the brim.

⁸Jesus said to them,

“Now draw some out,

and take it to the chief steward.”

So they took it.

⁹When the steward tasted the water that had become wine,

and did not know where it came from

(though the servants who had drawn the water knew),

the steward called the bridegroom ¹⁰and said to him,

“Everyone serves the good wine first,

and then the inferior wine

after the guests have become drunk.

But you have kept the good wine until now.”

¹¹Jesus did this,

the first of his signs,

in Cana of Galilee,

and revealed his glory;

and his disciples believed in him.

Queeries for the text:
On which third day?
Who was getting married in Cana?  How were Jesus, his mom, all the disciples and the wedding couple connected?  What other connections were there?
How did the mother of Jesus know he could fix the wine problem?
Who were the servants?  What was Jesus' mom's role at the wedding?
How much is 20-30 gallons?
What is the chief steward's role?
Is it good to have good wine late?  Why does it matter?
How many other signs are there?
Why does it matter that it was in Cana of Galilee?  How is location important?
Why is belief connected to the wine?
What is glory?

What are your queeries?

lent 5 year b - john

John 12:20-33

²⁰Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks.

     ²¹They came to Philip,

          who was from Bethsaida in Galilee,

          and said to him,

               “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

²²Philip went and told Andrew;

     then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

          ²³Jesus answered them,

               “The hour has come for the Human One to be glorified.

                    ²⁴Very truly, I tell you,

                         unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

                              it remains just a single grain;

                         but if it dies,

                              it bears much fruit.

                    ²⁵Those who love their life lose it,

                         and those who hate their life in this world 

                              will keep it for eternal life.

                    ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me,

                         and where I am,

                              there will my servant be also.

                    Whoever serves me,

                         the Father will honor.

²⁷“Now my soul is troubled.

     And what should I say—

          ‘Father, save me from this hour’?

               No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.

          ²⁸Father, glorify your name.”

Then a voice came from heaven,

     “I have glorified it,

          and I will glorify it again.”

²⁹The crowd standing there heard it

     and said that it was thunder.

Others said,

     “An angel has spoken to him.”

³⁰Jesus answered,

     “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.

          ³¹Now is the judgment of this world;

          now the ruler of this world will be driven out.

               ³²And I, when I am lifted up from the earth,

                    will draw all people to myself.”

³³Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.  
 
Queerying the text:
What festival is it this time?
Are the disciples playing the first game of telephone with these Greeks and Jesus?
Is the Greek's interest in Jesus the indicator that the hour has come?
Did politicians learn how not to answer questions from Jesus' example?
Did Jesus believe in the resurrection or just think he'd be a martyr?
What does it mean to hate our life in this world?
Where is Jesus?
Does Jesus know we are pretty much only motivated by reward?
How has God and will God glorify Their name?
Did people not understand the words from the voice from heaven?
Who is the ruler of this world?

What are your queeries?

advent 3 year b - john

John 1:6-8, 19-28

⁶There was a man sent from God,

     whose name was John. 

          ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light,

               so that all might believe through him.

               ⁸He himself was not the light,

                    but he came to testify to the light.

¹⁹This is the testimony given by John

     when the Judeans sent priests and Levites 

          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 him,

     “What then?

          Are you Elijah?”

He said,

     “I am not.”

“Are you the prophet?”

He answered,

     “No.” 

²²Then they said to him,

     “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 Lord,’”

               as the prophet Isaiah said. 

²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 

     ²⁵They asked him,

          “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:

Is the light to which John testifies from the whole electromagnetic spectrum?

Why does the way have to be straight?  Why can't it be queer?

How else do we define ourselves by what and who we are not?

Who else stands (or sits) among us whom we do not know?

When we ask questions, who do we answer to?

Why does John not deny that he is not the Messiah?

How lonely is the one crying out in the wilderness?

Why did the Pharisees send the priests and Levites?

What are your queeries?