Queerying 11th after Pentecost C

River Needham, MA ThM queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Jeremiah 1:4-10
The word of the Becoming One came to me:
Before I created you in the womb, I selected you;
Before you were born, I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet concerning the nations.

I replied:
Ah, Becoming God!
I don’t know how to speak,
For I am still a boy.

And the Becoming One said to me:
Do not say, “I am still a boy,”
But go wherever I send you
And speak whatever I command you.
Have no fear of them,
For I am with you to deliver you
—declares the Becoming One.

The Becoming One put out a hand and touched my mouth, and said to me:
Now I put my words into your mouth.
See, I appoint you this day
Over nations and kingdoms:
To uproot and to pull down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.

Queeries for the text:
How did the word of the Becoming One come?
Who is still a boy?
What are Christians afraid of?
What needs to be destroyed and rebuilt, overthrown and planted?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Luke 13:10-17
¹⁰Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. ¹¹And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. ¹²When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” ¹³When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

¹⁴But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.”

¹⁵But the Leader answered the synagogue leader and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie their ox or their donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? ¹⁶And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” ¹⁷When Jesus said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

Queeries for the text:
How often is Jesus active on the Sabbath?
What does it mean to be crippled?
How are people bent?
How do ailments bind? How don't they?
What is Sabbath for?
What is shameful today? 

What are your queeries?

Queerying 4th after Epiphany B

River Needham, MA queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Moses continued:
The Becoming One your God will raise up for you a prophet from among your own people, like myself; hir you shall heed. This is just what you asked of the Becoming One your God at Horeb, on the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear the voice of the Becoming One my God any longer or see this wondrous fire any more, lest I die.” 

Then the Becoming One said to me, “They have done well in speaking this. I will raise up a prophet for them from among their own people, like yourself: I will put My words in hirs mouth and xe will speak to them all that I command hir; and if anybody fails to heed the words xe speaks in My name, I Myself will call hir to account. But any prophet who presumes to speak in My name an oracle that I did not command hir to utter, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet shall die.”

Queeries for the text:
Who are the prophets of our day?

Where are the prophetesses?

Where is Horeb?

Why did the people not want to hear from The Becoming One anymore?
Does death seem an appropriate penalty? Why or why not?

 

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

 

 

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

²¹Jesus, Simon, Andrew, James, and John went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. ²²The crowd was astounded at his teaching, for Jesus taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

 

²³Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, ²⁴and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 

 

²⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 

 

²⁶And the unclean spirit, convulsing the man and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! This one commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸At once Jesus' fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

 

Queeries for the text:

What is authority? Who has it?

Why do names matter? How?

How does fame impact people?

What is unclean?

What happens on the sabbath today?

Who destroys? What is saved?

 

What are your queeries?

 

 

Queerying Pentecost A

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

Tanakh: Numbers 11:24-30

Moses went out and reported the words of the Becoming One to the people. He gathered seventy of the people’s elders and stationed them around the Tent. Then the Becoming One came down in a cloud and spoke to him; They drew upon the spirit that was on him and put it upon the seventy elders. And when the spirit rested upon them, they spoke in ecstasy but did not continue. Two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, had remained in camp; yet the spirit rested upon them—they were among those recorded, but they had not gone out to the Tent—and they spoke in ecstasy in the camp. A youth ran out and told Moses, saying, “Eldad and Medad are acting the prophet in the camp!” And Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ attendant from his youth, spoke up and said, “My lord Moses, restrain them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you wrought up on my account? Would that all the Becoming One’s people were prophets, that the Becoming One put Their spirit upon them!” Moses then reentered the camp together with the elders of Israel.

Queeries for the text:
How do we gatekeep people from our movements?

How is gatekeeping a helpful construct?

Who are the prophets who are ignored?

Who are the prophets we overhonor?

What do you have to say to the church today?

Who do you need to listen to?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Acts reading.

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. ²And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

⁵Now there were devout Jewish people from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jewish born and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”

¹²All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

¹³But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, “People of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. ¹⁵Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ¹⁷‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your children of all genders shall prophesy, and your youth shall see visions, and your elders shall dream dreams. ¹⁸Even upon my slaves, of all genders, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. ¹⁹And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. ²⁰The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Becoming One’s great and glorious day. ²¹Then everyone who calls on the name of the Becoming One shall be saved.’

Queeries for the text:
What kind of wind is violent?
What else can tongues do besides rest on people?
How else does communication happen on earth?
What bewilders us?
What is happening to native languages now?
What does this mean?
Who is prophesying today?
What visions are coming to people today?

What are your queeries?

Queerying 11th after Pentecost C

Periodic queerier, River Needham, queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Jeremiah 1:4-10

The word of the Becoming One came to me:

Before I created you in the womb, I selected you; before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet concerning the nations.

I replied: Ah, Becoming God! I don’t know how to speak, for I am still a boy.

Then the Becoming One said to me: Do not say, “I am still a boy,” But go wherever I send you and speak whatever I command you. Have no fear of them, for I am with you to deliver you —declares the Becoming One.

The Becoming One put out hir hand and touched my mouth, and said to me:

Here I put my words into your mouth. See, I appoint you this day over nations and kingdoms: to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.

Queeries for the text:
Can words perform actions?
Do people exist before birth?
What does it mean to be consecrated?
Where else in the world are children used to carry a message? Is this fair?
Where else does the Becoming One touch lips or mouths
Who else does the Becoming One appoint?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Luke 13:10-17
¹⁰Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

¹¹And just then there appeared a woman

with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years.
She was bent over
and was quite unable to stand up straight.

¹²When Jesus saw her,

he called her over and said,

“Woman, you are set free from your ailment.”

¹³When Jesus laid his hands on her,

immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

¹⁴But the leader of the synagogue,

indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath,

kept saying to the crowd,

“There are six days on which work ought to be done;

come on those days and be cured,
and not on the sabbath day.”

¹⁵But the One with Authority answered him and said,

“You hypocrites!

Does not each of you on the sabbath untie your ox or your donkey from the manger,

and lead it away to give it water?

¹⁶And ought not this woman,

a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years,

be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?”

¹⁷When Jesus said this,

all his opponents were put to shame;
and the entire crowd was rejoicing

at all the wonderful things that Jesus was doing.

Queeries for the text:
What did we skip this time?
Does any good come from Jesus teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath?
Can children cripple people?
How are spirits and ailments related?
Do we ever want to do anything straight?
What gifts does the sabbath bring?
How are people still in bondage?
How can we be set free?
Who was Jesus' intended audience?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Christmas Eve

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

Tanakh: Isaiah 9:2-7
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. For a child has been born to us, a son has been given us. Authority has settled on his shoulders. He has been named "The Mighty God is planning grace; The Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler"—in token of abundant authority and of peace without limit upon David's throne and kingdom, that it may be firmly established in justice and in equity now and evermore.

Queeries for the text:
What is happening to the brilliant light right now?
How do you live on a land of gloom?
What spoils do specific groups of us [unfairly] divide today?
Which taskmasters do we serve today?
How do you plan grace?
What about eternal peace?
Who is this ruler?

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

Gospel: Luke 2:1-14[15-20]
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus

that all the world should be registered.

²This was the first registration

and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³All went to their own towns to be registered.

⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee

to Judea,

to the city of David called Bethlehem,

because he was descended from the house and family of David.

⁵Joseph went to be registered with Mary,

to whom he was engaged

and who was expecting a child.

⁶While they were there,

the time came for her to deliver her child.

⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn

and wrapped him in bands of cloth,

and laid him in a manger,

because there was no place for them in the inn.

⁸In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹Then an angel of God stood before them,

and the glory of God shone around them,

and they were terrified.

¹⁰But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid;

for see—

I am bringing you good news of great joy
    for all the people:

¹¹to you is born this day

in the city of David a Savior,

who is the Messiah, the Sovereign.

¹²This will be a sign for you:

you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth
and lying in a manger.”

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly army,

praising God and saying,

¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom God favors!”

[¹⁵When the angels had left them

and gone into heaven,

the shepherds said to one another,

“Let us go now to Bethlehem

and see this thing that has taken place,

which God has made known to us.”

¹⁶So they went with haste

and found Mary and Joseph,

and the child lying in the manger.

¹⁷When they saw this,

they made known what had been told them about this child;

¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed
    at what the shepherds told them.

      ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words

     and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰The shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen,

as it had been told them.]

Queeries for the text:
Why do people get registered?
Who is Quirinius?
Why was Jesus born at that time?
What sort of place was Jesus born?
What do shepherds do with their time?
What happened to the sheep when the shepherds went to Bethlehem?
Who else did the shepherds find with Mary, Joseph, and the child?
How do we treasure and ponder words in our hearts?
How can we glorify and praise God?

What are your queeries?

2nd after pentecost year b - mark

Mark 2:23-3:6
²³One sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields; 
     and as the disciples made their way 
          they began to pluck heads of grain.  
²⁴The Pharisees said to Jesus, 
     “Look, 
          why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?”  
²⁵And Jesus said to them, 
     “Have you never read what David did 
          when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food?
               ²⁶He entered the house of God, 
                    when Abiathar was high priest, 
               and ate the bread of the Presence, 
                    which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, 
               and he gave some to his companions.”  
²⁷Then Jesus said to them, 
     “The sabbath was made for humankind, 
     and not humankind for the sabbath;
          ²⁸so the Human One is master even of the sabbath.”

3Again Jesus entered the synagogue, 
     and a man was there who had a withered hand.
          ²They watched Jesus to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, 
               so that they might accuse him. 
³And Jesus said to the man who had the withered hand, 
     “Come forward.” 
⁴Then Jesus said to them, 
     “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, 
          to save life or to kill?” 
But they were silent.  
⁵Jesus looked around at them with anger; 
     he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, 
          “Stretch out your hand.” 
               The man stretched it out, 
               and his hand was restored.  
⁶The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired 
     with the Herodians against Jesus, 
          how to destroy him.

Queeries for the text:
What's the deal with the Sabbath?
Are Jesus and the disciples free loaders?  Are they gleaning like Ruth?
Are there any laws in the Bible that God and people actually uphold as good throughout?
What would happen if David tried that now in a church?
How is the Sabbath made for us?  Do we act like there even is a Sabbath at all anymore?
When will they learn that they can't trap Jesus?  Haven't they read the gospels??
Why is Jesus creating a false binary?
Would their trap have worked if they'd realized Jesus' binary was false and then rejected it?
When am I the silent one?
What grieves Jesus today?
What is the relationship between the Pharisees and the Herodians? 

What are your queeries?



Here is what I preached on this text (also referenced are Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and 2 Corinthians 4:5-12).  I also reference Sarah Rosales for this prophetic word.