September 17, 2017, Lectionary

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With Hurricane Irma we see pics of the bare ocean bed, the water all gone before the wind. Is this like it was at the Red Sea crossing? Exodus 14:19-31

The psalmist takes significant poetic license with the stories of Israel, using conflation, personification, and imagery. Psalm 114

I don't get to condemn anyone for eating the "wrong" foods, or regarding the "wrong" day, or .... I don't get to condemn anyone! Romans 14:1-12

Odd that someone recently so greatly relieved of debt would not be either recovering from fright or rejoicing in deliverance. Matthew 18:21-35

Thoughts about Listening

Even when someone uses apparently contradicting metaphors or descriptions, keep listening. Exodus 14:19-31

Talk shapes walk. Language determines actions. If my walk does not match my talk, I'm using doubletalk somewhere. Psalm 114

Let's get condemnation and superiority out of our language, especially out of our self-talk. Romans 14:1-12

When the big threat passes, we so often return to our pettinesses. Matthew 18:21-35

Bible Reading Group Homework

1.    Research or remember, and tell, how Hurricane Irma pulled water away from some beaches, laying the ocean floor bare.

2.    Read or listen to Exodus 14:19-31. Scan both chapters 14 and 15 to get the whole story. Can you imagine what kind of wind could make a wall of water on each side of a dry path through the sea? Whom did the people thank for the deliverance?

3.    Read or listen to Psalm 114. How is the story the same or different in this telling? Consider how each generation re-told the stories, sometimes conflating two or more stories, sometimes personifying certain elements, sometimes with surprising imagery.

4.    Read or listen to Romans 14:1-12. “Judge” has the connotation “condemn” here. How many people does one person have the right to condemn, according to Paul?

5.    Read or listen to Matthew 18:21-35. The first debt would take 150,000 years to pay if a day laborer could pay all his earnings. The second debt would take 100 days. How would you feel if forgiven the first debt? The second debt? What is the point of the story? What will you do about it today?

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1.    Investigue, recuerde y diga, cómo es que el huracán Irma sacó el agua de algunas playas, dejando desnudo el suelo del océano.

2.    Leer o escuchar Éxodo 14:19-31. Para obtener toda la historia, escudriñe los capítulos 14 y 15. ¿Se imagina qué tipo de viento podría hacer una pared de agua a cada lado dejando a través del mar un camino seco?

3.    Leer o escuchar el Salmo 114. ¿En este relato, la historia es igual o diferente? Considere cómo es que  cada generación volvió a contar las mismas historias, algunas veces combinando dos o más historias, a veces personificado ciertos  elementos, a veces con imágenes sorprendentes. (Ver también Isaías 51:10; Miqueas 7:19; 1 Corintios 10:1-2; Apocalipsis 21:1.)

4.    Leer o escuchar Romanos 14:1-12. Aquí la palabra "Juez" tiene la connotación "condenar". De acuerdo a Pablo, ¿A cuántas personas tiene una persona derecho a condenar?

5.    Leer o escuchar Mateo 18:21-35. La primera deuda tardaría 150,000 años en pagarse, si un jornalero pudiera pagarla con todos sus ingresos. La segunda deuda tardaría 100 días.  ¿Cómo se sentiría si le perdonaran la primera deuda? ¿La segunda deuda? ¿Cuál es el punto de la historia? ¿Qué va a hacer hoy?