Queerying Baptism of Jesus year C

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

Tanakh: Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus said the Becoming One — who created you, O Jacob, who formed you, O Israel:

Fear not, for I will redeem you; I have singled you out by name, You are mine.

When you pass through water, I will be with you;

through streams, they shall not overwhelm you.

When you walk through fire, you shall not be scorched;

through flame, it shall not burn you.

For I, the Becoming One, am your God, The Holy One of Israel, your savior.

I give Egypt as a ransom for you, Ethiopia and Saba in exchange for you.

Because you are precious to me, and honored, and I love you.

I give humans in exchange for you,

and peoples in your stead.

Fear not, for I am with you:

I will bring your folk from the East,

will gather you out of the West;

I will say to the North, “Give back!”

and to the South, “Do not withhold!

Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the end of the earth—
All who are linked to my name, whom I have created, formed, and made for my glory.

Queeries for the Text:
Who created Israel and Judah?
What are the fires and streams of today?
Where else does God offer ransoms?
Are some people worth less in God's eyes?
Where else does "I am with you" function as words of comfort? As challenge?
What is the significance of the four directions?
What does it mean to be created, formed and made for God's glory?

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

Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
¹⁵As the people were filled with expectation,

and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John,

whether he might be the Messiah,

¹⁶John answered all of them by saying,

“I baptize you with water;

but one who is more powerful than I is coming;

I am not worthy to untie the thong of their sandals.

This one will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

¹⁷With a winnowing fork in hand,

they will clear the threshing floor

and gather the wheat into the granary,

burning the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

²¹Now when all the people were baptized,

and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,

the heaven was opened,

²²and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus

in bodily form like a dove.

And a voice came from heaven,

“You are my Child,

the Beloved;

with you I am well pleased.”

Queeries for the text:
What's missing? Why is it missing?  Who else is shut up in prison?
Why does the first half sound so familiar?
Does John know he's referring to Jesus?  How does John know how powerful Jesus is?
Who baptizes Jesus in this gospel?
What was Jesus' prayer after being baptized?
What did Jesus do to earn God's love and praise?
What is it like for a dove to descend?
What does God's voice sound like?
Did anything special happen during Jesus' baptism?
What do the heavens look like when they open?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Epiphany

Periodic queerier, River Needham, queeries today's reading from the Tanakh.

Tanakh - Isaiah 60:1-6

Arise, shine, for your light has dawned;

The Presence of the Becoming One has shone upon you!

Behold! Darkness shall cover the earth, And thick clouds the peoples;

But upon you the Becoming One will shine, and
Their presence be seen over you.

And nations shall walk by your light, Kings, by your shining radiance.

Raise your eyes and look about: the nations have all gathered and come to you.

Some of your children shall be brought from afar,

Other children like babes on shoulders.

As you behold, you will glow; your heart will throb and thrill— for the wealth of the sea shall pass on to you, the riches of nations shall flow to you.
Dust clouds of camels shall cover you, dromedaries of Midian and Ephah.
They all shall come from Sheba; They shall bear gold and frankincense, and shall herald the glories of the Becoming One.

Queeries for the text:
What light has dawned?
What is the Presence of the Becoming One?
What is darkness?
Where else does The Becoming One shine?
What is this Shining Radiance?
Can you be brought from afar on shoulders? What does this imply about those traveling?
Where else do hearts throb and thrill?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries today's gospel reading.

Gospel - Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod,

after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

magi from the East came to Jerusalem,

²asking, “Where is the child who has been born ruler of the Jews?

For we observed their star at its rising,

and have come to pay them homage.”

³When King Herod heard this,

he was frightened,

and all Jerusalem with him;

⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people,

he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

⁵They told him,

“In Bethlehem of Judea;

for so it has been written by the prophet:

⁶‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷Then Herod secretly called for the magi

and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.

⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem,

saying, “Go and search diligently for the child;

and when you have found him,

bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

⁹When they had heard the king,

the magi set out;

and there, ahead of them,

went the star that they had seen at its rising,

until it stopped over the place where the child was.

¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped,

the magi were overwhelmed with joy.

¹¹On entering the house,

they saw the child with Mary his mother;

and they knelt down and paid him homage.

Then, opening their treasure chests,

they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,

they left for their own country by another road.

Queeries for the text:
What are magi and which one is Jesus' star?
Why was all Jerusalem frightened with King Herod?
Why didn't Herod know where the Messiah was to be born?  Which prophet wrote that?
Why did Herod call the magi back secretly?
Why does Herod assume the baby will be a boy?
What does it feel like to be overwhelmed with joy?
When did the Holy Family get a house?
How many magi were there?  How did they make it across so many lands?  Why gold, frankincense, and myrrh?
What warnings are dreams bringing today?
How can we take another road?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Christmas 1 Year C

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

Tanakh: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Samuel was engaged in the service of the Becoming One as an attendant, girded with a linen ephod. Hir mother would also make a little robe for hir and bring it up to hir every year, when she made the pilgrimage with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and eir wife, and say, “May the Becoming One grant you offspring by this woman in place of the loan she made to the Becoming One.” Then they would return home.
Young Samuel, meanwhile, grew in esteem and favor both with God and with humans.

Queeries for the text:
What is missing from this text?
What does it mean to be an attendant?
What is an ephod?
What pilgrimages do we make today?
What does it mean to bless someone?
Where is home? What is home?
What does it mean to grow in esteem and favor?

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

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
⁴¹Now every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem

for the festival of the Passover.

⁴²And when Jesus was twelve years old,

they went up as usual for the festival.

⁴³When the festival was ended and they started to return,

the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem,

but his parents did not know it.

⁴⁴Assuming that he was in the group of travelers,

they went a day’s journey.

Then they started to look for Jesus among their relatives and friends.

⁴⁵When they did not find Jesus,

they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

⁴⁶After three days they found Jesus in the temple,

sitting among the teachers,

listening to them

and asking them questions.

⁴⁷And all who heard Jesus were amazed

at his understanding and his answers.

⁴⁸When Jesus' parents saw him they were astonished;

and his mother said to him,

“Child, why have you treated us like this?

Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”

⁴⁹Jesus said to them,

“Why were you searching for me?

Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

⁵⁰But they did not understand what Jesus said to them.

⁵¹Then Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth,

and was obedient to them.

His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,

and in divine and human favor.

Queeries for the text:
How hard is it to get to Jerusalem every year for the Passover?
What were Mary and Joseph doing during the festival?
What system of family care-giving did Jesus grow up with?
Where did Jesus sleep after Mary and Joseph began to head home?
Why does everything happen after three days?
If Jesus was listening and asking questions, how could people be amazed at his answers?
Who is responsible for anxiety?
How often do we not understand Jesus?  Children?
When else did Mary treasure things in her heart?
What does it mean to increase in wisdom? years? divine favor? human favor?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Holy Innocents

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

Tanakh: Jeremiah 31:15-17
Thus said the Becoming One: A cry is heard in Ramah—wailing, bitter weeping—Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children, who are gone.
Thus said the Becoming One: restrain your voice from weeping, your eyes from shedding tears;
for there is a reward for your labor—declares the Becoming One:
They shall return from the enemy's land. And there is hope for your future—declares the The Becoming One: your children shall return to their country.

Queeries for the text:
Who weeps today?
Who weeps today?
Who weeps today?
Who weeps today?
Where is Ramah? What is its importance?
Where are the children gone to?
How can God offer a reward for such a horrible deed?
Where are we waiting for people to return to their country?

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

Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18
¹³Now after the magi had left,

an angel of God appeared to Joseph in a dream

and said,

“Get up,

take the child and their mother,

and flee to Egypt,

and remain there until I tell you;

for Herod is about to search for the child,

to destroy them.”

¹⁴Then Joseph got up,

took the child and their mother by night,

and went to Egypt,

¹⁵and remained there until the death of Herod.

This was to fulfill what had been spoken by God

through the prophet,

“Out of Egypt I have called my child.”

¹⁶When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi,

he was infuriated,

and he sent

and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem

who were two years old or under,

according to the time that he had learned from the magi.

¹⁷Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

¹⁸“A voice was heard in Ramah,

wailing and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be consoled,

because they are no more.”

Queeries for the text:
What are magi?
How are our dreams guiding us today?
Who provided refuge for those who were fleeing?
What happens when powerful people are tricked?
Who are slaughtered today?
Who are slaughtered today?
Who are slaughtered today?
Who are slaughtered today?
How are we carrying out Herod's orders?
How are we we weeping without consolation?

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?

Queerying Advent 4 Year C

Our reading from the Tanakh is queeried by periodic queerier River Needham.

Micah 5:2-5a
And you, O Bethlehem of Ephrath, least among the clans of Judah, from you one shall come forth to rule Israel for me—one whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Truly, ze will leave them helpless until she who is to bear has borne; then the rest of hir countryfolk shall return to the children of Israel. Ze shall stand and shepherd by the might of the Becoming One, by the power of the name of the Becoming One hir God, and they shall dwell secure. For lo, ze shall wax great to the ends of the earth; and that shall afford safety.

Queeries for the text:
What does it mean to be least or most?
Who rules the days? What is happening to these days during this time?
Who rules Israel? Why does the ruler need to be replaced?
Who is the ancient one? Who bears hir?
Why does the ruler leave them helpless?
Who is divine in this text? Where does it change through the passage?
How does a ruler make people safe?
Where are the ends of the earth? Where else do they come up in Tanakh?
How do Jewish people respond to Christian appropriation of this text?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeried the gospel reading.

Luke 1:39-45[46-55]
³⁹In those days Mary set out

and went with haste to a Judean town

in the hill country,

⁴⁰where she entered the house of Zechariah

and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

the child leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

⁴²and exclaimed with a loud cry,

“Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

⁴³And why has this happened to me,

that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

⁴⁴For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting,

the child in my womb leaped for joy.

⁴⁵And blessed is she

who believed that what the Becoming One said to her

would be accomplished!”

⁴⁶And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Becoming One,

⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

⁴⁸who has looked with favor on me,

a lowly servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is God's name.

⁵⁰God's mercy is for those who fear Them

from generation to generation.

⁵¹God's arm is filled with strength,

scattering the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

⁵²God has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

⁵³God has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴God has helped Their servant Israel,

in remembrance of mercy,

⁵⁵according to the promise God made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Queeries for the text:
Where does Mary's song come from?
Why was Mary in such a hurry?
Who is Elizabeth?
What happens in a person's body when the fetus is in the sixth month?
Why do Elizabeth's words sound so familiar?
Who is the she who is blessed and believed?
Which powerful need to be brought down?  When?
How does God lift up the lowly?
Who are Abraham's descendants?
Where is Love?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Advent 3 Year C

Today's text from the Tanakh was queeried by periodic queerier River Needham.

Tanakh - Zephaniah 3:14-20
Shout for joy, fair Zion, cry aloud, O Israel! Rejoice and be glad with all your heart, fair Jerusalem!

The Becoming One has annulled the judgment against you, Xe has swept away your foes. Israel's Sovereign the Becoming One is within you; you need fear misfortune no more.

In that day, this shall be said to Jerusalem: Have no fear, O Zion; let not your hands droop!

Your God the Becoming One is in your midst, a warrior who brings triumph. Xe will rejoice over you and be glad, Xe will shout over you with jubilation. Xe will soothe with Xyr love those long disconsolate. I will take away from you the woe over which you endured mockery.

At that time I will make an end of all who afflicted you. And I will rescue the lame sheep and gather the strayed, and I will exchange their disgrace for fame and renown in all the earth.

At that time I will gather you, and at that time I will bring you home; for I will make you renowned and famous among all the peoples on earth when I restore your fortunes before their very eyes —said the Becoming One.

Queeries for the text:

What is the Judgment against Israel?
Who were Israel's Foes?
What does it mean for The Becoming One to be within us?
Where else is The Becoming One a warrior?
Why do the lame sheep need rescuing?
What is the exchange rate for fame?
What is God's home like? Why does God bring people home?

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Luke 3:7-18
⁷John said to the crowds

that came out to be baptized by him,

“You brood of vipers!

Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

⁸Bear fruits worthy of repentance.

Do not begin to say to yourselves,

‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’;

for I tell you,

God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

⁹Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees;

every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit

is cut down

and thrown into the fire.”

¹⁰And the crowds asked John,

“What then should we do?”

¹¹In reply John said to them,

“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none;

and whoever has food must do likewise.”

¹²Even tax collectors came to be baptized,

and they asked John,

“Teacher, what should we do?”

¹³John said to them,

“Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”

¹⁴Soldiers also asked John,

“And we,

what should we do?”

John said to them,

“Do not extort money from anyone

by threats or false accusation,

and be satisfied with your wages.”

¹⁵As the people were filled with expectation,

and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John,

whether he might be the Messiah,

¹⁶John answered all of them by saying,

“I baptize you with water;

but one who is more powerful than I is coming;

the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.

This one will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

¹⁷With a winnowing fork in hand,

this one will clear the threshing floor

and gather the wheat into the granary;

burning the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

¹⁸So, with many other exhortations,

John proclaimed the good news to the people.

Queeries for the text:
What fruits are worthy of repentance?
Does John like puns as much as I do?
How do we rely on our ancestors for justification or worth?
How is John advocating for good stewardship of fruit trees and wheat?
Is John a socialist?
How are we sharing coats and food?  How are we hoarding them?
How are John's words to soldiers, words for police today?  What does John think about collusion with Empire?
How do you untie the thong of a sandal?
If the chaff is to be burned, and baptism is with the Holy Spirit and fire, are we supposed to be chaff?
What exactly is the "good news" John is proclaiming?
Where is Joy?

What are your queeries?