These are the reflections for the 3rd Sunday in Lent. We explore the Lectionary Readings for this Sunday and reflect on other bits and pieces of interesting information the net has brought to our attention.
Just as a seine net pulls up all sorts of things, some unexpected, so I think of this Seine Net Reflection post, as it grabs bits of information off the net.
If you would like to see a page with the previous reflections, you can follow this link.
The Lectionary Readings for today
Scripture Lessons for this Week: the 3rd Sunday in Lent:
Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22
Reflections on the Scripture
As I mentioned last week, one of the books I highly recommend reading during the B lectionary cycle is Ched Meyers. Binding the Strong Man. The other book I again highly recommend for this lectionary cycle is Wes Howard-Brooks Becoming Children of God. Both books are well worth checking out and reading closely.
Putting this Passage into Perspective
What follows is going to be rather brief. There are other books that explore the social-political context of the gospels. My intent is rather to give an overall understanding.
You might notice about the today’s Gospel reading is that the Temple and Money Changers scene is occurring in John’s Gospel towards the beginning. In Matthew, Mark and Luke (referred to as the Synoptic Gospels for their synonymousness) the Temple scene occurs toward the end. For the Synoptic Gospels it is almost as if the Temple Money Changer scene is what causes the demise of Jesus.
This has led scholars to generally conclude the following: As the Gospel of John uses the grand discourses to push the theology of the Gospel, then the year to year actions of Jesus give a better insight into how long Jesus’ carrier may have been (about 3 years in John).
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke operate in a one-year time-table. It might even be shorter. In the Synoptic Gospels Jesus is baptized, goes to the desert, gathers disciples and heads to Jerusalem. In some ways, this traveling to Jerusalem is the Theological context over and above what Jesus says.
Therefore, if we want to look at Jesus’ ministry time frame, it was likely three years with multiple trips in and out of Jerusalem. If we want to know what Jesus is likely to have said, we study the Synoptic Gospels.
Who is this Community to Whom the Author is Writing?
The community of John’s author was likely still worshiping in the synagogues of that late first century. With the destruction of the Temple, the Pharisee and Christian communities were starting to argue over who truly represented the Jewish faith. It’s worth imagining that in some places the Christian community was likely already pushed out or had left. However, through the Gospel of John, we catch glimpses of the painful reality this group of Jewish Christians is facing. This group is on the verge of being removed from their worshiping home. There may be family disagreements and fear over the ways other family members have responded.
The harsh language towards two groups of people throughout the Gospel are evidence of this. The Pharisees receive harsh language, as they are the family opponents in the family feud. But it is the powerful (from a Pharisee lineage or training or standing) “secret Jesus followers” who receive the harshest language. These are the people who could speak up on the Christians behalf, but who keep quiet for their own comfort.
It is important to mention this context, as the Gospel of John has unfortunately been used to further anti-Semitism, when we are witnessing a family fight from the inside.
The Money Changers and the Temple as a Disagreement Over Economics
Much of what Jesus says in the Synoptic Gospels is about economics, especially the economics of oppression and marginalization. Remember that Jesus is speaking to the poor and on behalf of the poor against the Roman Empire’s system of Pax Romana (peace through violence on behalf of Rome).
Considering this, is it little wonder that Jesus would prophetically act in turning over the Money Changers at the Temple entrance? Prophets act to get our attention and thereby change our understanding. The Temple was in cahoots with the Empire.
Our Lentan Reflection
Perhaps, todays Gospel Lesson is about getting ourselves to pay attention to how we are in cahoots with Empire, and where we are in cahoots with the Reign of God. It is good to pay attention to these things. And then to struggle with how to align all of ourselves with our belief systems. I find that is harder to do.
A Reflection on the History of the Pretzel
Did you know that the Pretzel is the bread of choice for Lent? Yup. Flour, Salt, Water and Yeast is all you need, so these simple ingredients are Lentan approved. Here’s an article about the history of the lowly delicious Pretzel.
Just googling pretzel I found plenty of recipes for baking them. Do you have a favorite?
And just for fun, here is Santi Sallés drawing and painting some. They look delicious.
http://https://youtu.be/1tzja26tGmA
Reflections for Woman’s History Month
Raye Montague
Montague was the first person to design a ship via computer. She is one of the “Hidden Figures” that is worth getting to know. And now there is even a children’s book out about her: “The Girl With a Mind for Math.”
The blog “A Mighty Girl” has a post devoted to her. You can find it here “Raye Montague: The ‘Hidden Figure’ Who Revolutionized Naval Ship Design”
I’ll give you a little tid-bit quote to perk your interest:
The real test of Montague’s mettle came in 1971 when she was given the daunting task of figuring out how to design a Naval ship using a computer — her boss didn’t mention that his department had been unsuccessfully trying to accomplish this task for years. She ended up having to tear down the Navy’s computer and rebuild it but, after months of work, she figured out how to create computer-generated ship designs.
After she proved it was possible, the admiralty asked her to create a rough draft for an actual ship. It normally took two years to produce a design of a ship on paper; they gave her a month and she finished the design in 18 hours and 56 minutes. In honor of her breakthrough in the ship design process, Montague was awarded the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1972.
A Spiritual Practice
This week I’ve decided to focus on Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina (literally divine reading) is a spiritual practice that I was first officially introduced to in Seminary or College. But upon reflection, I’ve realized that I was really introduced to this method by my parent’s example of how they read. When I engaged in Spiritual Direction at the Monastery of St. Gertrude, a Benedictine Monastery, I was again introduced to the Lectio as a spiritual practice. Lectio is very Benedictine after all.
Throughout the process, this spiritual reading is not to gain information or knowledge, but more to gain insight or wisdom. It is a way of listening to the Spirit and treating the text as a living Word. I have found, that when I’m open, then all reading becomes spiritual (i.e. I’ll be reading a novel and a phrase will strike me and I’ll find myself entering Lectio).
The spiritual practice of Lectio Divina has four main components that flow from one to another. Five if you count Preparing yourself for this practice.
Lectio (Read): This is slowly reading the selected scripture passage. There are at least two ways to do this. One is to start with where you left off yesterday and stop when your spirit is struck by what you have just read. Another is to choose (or have chosen for you) a shorter piece of scripture: perhaps the Lectionary Lesson. In this method, slowly and openly read it four times through, listening to the Spirit speak to you.
Meditatio (Reflect): In this section of the practice, we reflect upon what the Spirit might be saying to us through the scripture.
Oratio (Respond/Prayer): This might be a load, or silent. Perhaps you would find journaling helpful. Liturgically, “oratio” has the feeling of a collect type of public prayer. Maybe the “prayer of the day” would be helpful. It is a responding to the Meditation. One might think of it as my side of the conversation.
Contemplatio (Contemplation/Rest): This is the time to sit quietly and listen to the Divine. When our minds wonder (they like to do that), just gently bring them back to this quiet place. My spiritual director, Sr. Judith, used to use the metaphor of tools for this. “It is ok to set the hammer down on the bench. It will be there when you need it.” I have found that a helpful analogy. I can put my thoughts about certain tasks that need to be accomplished down upon the bench. When I’m done, I can pick them up again.
I hope this is helpful to get your started.
Blessed be
Currently I’ve been reading Roger Barnes The Dinghy Cruising Companion
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A Word About The Links
Most of the links in this post are to other pages.
The links in this post are affiliate links through Bookshop.org for your convenience. If you were to purchase something by following the links, we would get a small commission at no extra expense to you, while you get to support a local bookstore. Thank you for the support. If you’d like to see other books I’ve recommended, click here.
Amazon Links
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Ched Myers. Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark’s Story of Jesus.
Wes Howard-Brooks Becoming Children of God
Roger Barnes The Dinghy Cruising Companion
[…] Last week I mentioned that Jesus reflects upon economics in the Gospel. I also mentioned that I would have more about economics this week. So, here we go. […]