Queerying 4th after Epiphany A

River Needham, M.A., queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Micah 6:1-8

Hear what the Becoming One is saying: Come, present my case before the mountains, and let the hills hear you pleading. Listen, you mountains, the case of the Becoming One—you firm foundations of the earth! For the Becoming One has a case against her people, She has a suit against Israel. “My people! What wrong have I done you? What hardship have I caused you? Testify against me. In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

“My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted against you, and how Balaam son of Beor responded to him; from Shittim to Gilgal— and you will recognize the gracious acts of the Becoming One.” With what shall I approach the Becoming One, do homage to God on high? Shall I approach Her with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Would the Becoming One be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriads of streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for my sins? “She has told you, O human, what is good, and what the Becoming One requires of you: only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk modestly with your God.”
Imbolc, Brigid, Nature, Trials, Slavery, Karbanot, Fight for 15, modesty

Queeries for the text:
What else is happening today, liturgically? In other faiths?
What do mountains listen to?
Does the Becoming One also have a case against the united states? What is that case?
As this text echoes the Parashot, or Torah readings this month, what does it mean to read this text through Christian eyes, who do not have the same history of religious oppression? What might it mean to read this text through white eyes, who do not have a history of slavery?
What kinds of offerings is the text proposing? Why is God not satisfied with any of them?
What is good and just?
How is modesty helpful and harmful?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
 
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, Jesus' disciples came to him. ²Then Jesus began to speak, and taught them, saying:
³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the reign of heaven.
⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the reign of heaven.
¹¹“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Queeries for the text:
What did we skip?  Why does it matter?
Who are the poor in spirit?
Who are the meek?
Who hunger and thirst for righteousness?
Who are the peacemakers?  Who aren't?
Who are reviled and persecuted?

What are your queeries?

Queerying 3rd after Epiphany A

River Needham, M.A., queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Isaiah 9:1-4

The people that walked in darkness have seen a brilliant light; on those who dwelt in a land of gloom light has dawned.
You have magnified that nation, have given it great joy; they have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at reaping time, as they exult when dividing spoil.
For the yoke that they bore and the stick on their back— the rod of their taskmaster— you have broken as on the day of Midian. Truly, all the boots put on to stamp with and all the garments donned in infamy have been fed to the flames, devoured by fire.

Queeries for the text:
How is this text different if the first verse reads, "The people who walked in light have seen a calming darkness; on those who dwelt in a land of brightness, dusk and fallen?"
Does light exist without darkness?
How do you magnify a nation?
Who rejoices at reaping time?
When did the rod of their taskmasters get broken?
What garments were donned in infamy?
Why are the garments devoured by fire?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.


Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23

¹²Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ¹⁵“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— ¹⁶the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” ¹⁷From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the reign of heaven has come near.”

¹⁸As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²²Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Queeries for the text:
Why was John arrested?
Why would Jesus withdraw?
Where have I heard "Repent, for the reign of heaven has come near"?
How much does Jesus like the oppor-tuna-ty to cast out puns?
Why would anyone leave home and family?
How do you cure the sickness of white supremacy?
How do you cure the sickness of capitalism?

What are your queeries?