Queerying Easter Day C

Queery the rest of Holy Week

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel readings.

Gospel: Luke 24:1-12
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they went in, they did not find the body. ⁴While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two people in dazzling clothes stood beside them. ⁵The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the people said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? They are not here, but have risen. ⁶Remember how Jesus told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷that the Human One must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

⁸Then the women remembered Jesus' words, ⁹and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.

¹¹But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. ¹²But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Queeries for the text:
Which spices had been prepared?
When else have dazzling clothes appeared? Who dazzles?
When do we look for the living among the dead?
Who are the sinners?
Who made up the church before the apostles were told?
Why wouldn't they believe women?

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Gospel: John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ²So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other in the chosen family, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lover out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid the body.” ³Then Peter and the one whom Jesus loved set out and went toward the tomb. ⁴The two were running together, but the other outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵This one bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came, following, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸Then the other, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and saw and believed; ⁹for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that Jesus must rise from the dead. ¹⁰Then the two returned to their homes.

¹¹But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹²and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “They have taken away my Lover, and I do not know where they have laid the body.” ¹⁴When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

¹⁵Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”

Supposing Jesus to be the gardener, she said, “Liege, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).

¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Caregiver. But go to my siblings and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Caregiver and your Caregiver, to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸Mary Magdalene went and announced to the chosen family, “I have seen the Lover”; and she told them that They had said these things to her.

Queeries for the text:
Who is the "they"?
How do you believe without understanding?
When do we not recognize loved ones?
How are names powerful?
Who made up the church before Mary announced the news to anyone else?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Transfiguration C

Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36[37-43a]
²⁸Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹And while Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling. ³⁰Suddenly the chosen family present saw two people, Moses and Elijah, talking to Jesus. ³¹They appeared in glory and were speaking of Jesus' departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

³²Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two who stood with him. ³³Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Leader, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said.

³⁴While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. ³⁵Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Child, my Chosen; listen to him!”

³⁶When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

[³⁷On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met Jesus. ³⁸Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my child; they are my only child. ³⁹Suddenly a spirit seizes them, and all at once they shriek. It convulses them until they foams at the mouth; it mauls them and will scarcely leave them. ⁴⁰I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able.”

⁴¹Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your child here.”

⁴²While they were coming, the demon dashed the child to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave them back to their father. ⁴³And all were astounded at the greatness of God.]

Queeries for the text:
After which sayings?
How dazzling?
What departure was Jesus about to accomplish?
What happens when someone is weighed down by sleep? 
Why Moses and Elijah?
When else does a voice speak?
Who still keeps silent today?
When are people not able to help?
Why is Jesus burnt out?
What needs rebuking today?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Transfiguration A

River Needham M.A. queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Exodus 24:12-18

The Becoming One said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the teachings and commandments which I have inscribed to instruct them.” So Moses and his attendant Joshua arose, and Moses ascended the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us until we return to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you; let anyone who has a legal matter approach them.” When Moses had ascended the mountain, the cloud covered the mountain. The Presence of the Becoming One abode on Mount Sinai, and the cloud hid it for six days. On the seventh day She called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. Now the Presence of the Becoming One appeared in the sight of the Israelites as a consuming fire on the top of the mountain. Moses went inside the cloud and ascended the mountain; and Moses remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Queeries for the text:
What mountain does The Becoming One tell Moses to go up?
Can tablets be made of stone?
How do we instruct?
Does the Becoming One have a body?
What other divine figures are represented by fire?
What is significant about forty days?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. ²And Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴Then Peter said to Jesus, “Duuuuuude, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

⁵While Peter was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Child, the Beloved; with whom I am well pleased; listen to him!” ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.  

⁷But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” ⁸And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. ⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Human One has been raised from the dead.”

Queeries for the text:
Six days later than what?
How does the sun shine?
How does whiteness dazzle?  What about darkness?
How was Peter going to make the dwellings?
How does touch challenge fear?
Why doesn't Jesus want anyone to know?

What are your queeries?

Transfiguration year C

Periodic queerier, River Needham, queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Exodus 34:29-35
So Moses came down from Mount Sinai.
Then, as Moses came down from the mountain bearing the two tablets of the pact,

Moses was not aware that the skin of his face was radiant, since he had

spoken with Her.

Aaron and all the Israelites saw that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant; and they

shrank from coming near him.

But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the chieftains in the assembly returned

to him, and Moses spoke to them.

Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he instructed them concerning

all that the Becoming One had imparted to him on Mount Sinai.

And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses went in before the Becoming One to speak with Her, he would leave the veil off until he came out;

and when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,

the Israelites would see how radiant the skin of Moses’ face was.

Moses would then put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with Her.

Queeries for the text:
Where is Mount Sinai? Do other traditions of this story exist?
Which pact was on the two tablets?
How does radiance look on different types of skin?
Where else do the leaders of the congregation show up in Torah?
Why did the Israelites fear Moses? What made his radiance atypical?
Where else do veils show up in Torah? How are veils gendered? What about veils or wigs today?
How many times did Moses see Her? Was this a regular occurrence? What about people who hear directly from God today?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36 [37-43]
²⁸Now about eight days after these sayings

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James,

and went up on the mountain to pray.

²⁹And while Jesus was praying,

the appearance of his face changed,

and his clothes became dazzling white.

³⁰Suddenly they saw two men,

Moses and Elijah,

talking to Jesus.

³¹They appeared in glory
and were speaking of his departure,

which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

³²Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep;

but since they had stayed awake,

they saw his glory
and the two men who stood with him.

³³Just as the men were leaving him,

Peter said to Jesus,

“Master, it is good for us to be here;

let us make three dwellings,

one for you,
one for Moses,
and one for Elijah”

—not knowing what he said.

³⁴While he was saying this,

a cloud came and overshadowed them;

and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.

³⁵Then from the cloud came a voice that said,

“This is my Child,

my Chosen;

listen to him!”

³⁶When the voice had spoken,

Jesus was found alone.

And they kept silent

and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

³⁷On the next day,

when they had come down from the mountain,

a great crowd met Jesus.

³⁸Just then a man from the crowd shouted,

“Teacher, I beg you to look at my son;

he is my only child.

³⁹Suddenly a spirit seizes him,

and all at once he shrieks.

It convulses him until he foams at the mouth;

it mauls him
and will scarcely leave him.

⁴⁰I begged your disciples to cast it out,

but they could not.”

⁴¹Jesus answered,

“You faithless and perverse generation,

how much longer must I be with you and bear with you?

Bring your son here.”

⁴²While he was coming,

the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions.

But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit,

healed the boy,

and gave him back to his father.

⁴³And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing,

Jesus said to his disciples,

Queeries for the text:
Eight days after which sayings?
What does glory look like?  How does transfiguration appear?
Where have we heard that claim before?
How could Peter not know what he was saying?
Where are other places that God shows up in clouds?
What does God's voice sound like?
Why can't the disciples cast out the demon?
Who is the faithless and perverse generation?
What did Jesus say?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Epiphany Music

Epiphany and the season after it are upon us!  As with Christmas, I've made a playlist!  There are some songs that are familiar to me, having grown up in the church.  Songs like We Three Kings and the First Noel will show up a few different times in this playlist.  In this playlist there are also other songs, some I found on my own and some that were suggested by friends.  

Unlike my Christmas playlist, this playlist is intentionally organized.  It begins from the perspective of the wise ones, or magi, includes their whole journey and the fall-out in the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents, and moves into Jesus' Baptism and the season after Epiphany, a season characterized by more light coming into the world as well as glimpses of God's glory being made manifest in the ordinary of life.  The playlist ends with Transfiguration, which we celebrate the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. 

My playlists are never set in stone.  Like a good Lutheran, the canon on my seasonal playlists remains open.  Feel free to suggest additional songs or ask me why I picked certain ones (it may just be the title...or the actual lyrics.  Rarely, if ever, will the answer be the tune...I just don't know how to music like that).  Check out the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/user/22zoaq4yqbmnlyw5dfzp4mfty/playlist/4AcxpqhIOZnxmkq0uDHOvE