Saturday, January 12, 2019

Queerying 2nd after Epiphany



https://www.lstc.edu/assets/img/content/faculty/publicity/gstraw.jpg

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?



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