Be it the slogans on your church marquee, the wisdom offered to you by others, or the phrases that come from your own mouth in the midst of your sermons and pastoral care, clichés are ubiquitous. These brief commentaries, geared to the Revised Common Lectionary, open a dialogue between commonly used expressions and the scriptures we preach from. Decisions are not made, judgments are not passed. Each cliché has its own meaning and power in its own context. However, the spark of the dialogue is meant to inspire and contribute in a meaningful way to your weekly preparations.
This week's entry
Proper 7
June 24, 2018
Question Authority
I had these words on a bumper sticker on the back of my 1977 Dodge Monaco. Border crossing officers consistently found it worthy of comment, and often more than just comment. Timothy Leary, the LSD guru, is associated with this phrase. While others, including Carl Sagan and J.K. Rowling, have used these words, "Think for yourself and question authority" sums up Leary's teaching in a nutshell. He talks about the opportunities that we have in our contemporary culture, rather than a hunter-gatherer society where there are only two ways to think: hunter and gatherer. He questions the value of ancient understandings like "the Lord is our shepherd" saying the modern human is not a sheep but an active sensate, thinking, processing being that is free to make choices. We are not sheep like at all. His thinking extends to questioning the media (and this was before the Internet became what it is) and its influence and control of our thoughts. We have so many authorities that one would think questioning them is a necessity.
Mark 5:41-42
He took her by the hand and said to her,
“Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!”
And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about
(she was twelve years of age).
At this they were overcome with amazement.
A function of many of the miracle stories is the assertion of Jesus authority. In this case it led to amazement. However one could point to stories such as the cleansing of the temple, told in all four Gospels, to say that it was Jesus’ questioning of authority that led to his death. However, not many years later, the church was teaching the opposite, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities." (Romans 13:1) I have mentioned the importance of timing in other entries in this book. I am not one that adheres much to rules that fit all situations.
Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary (Click on the season you wish to see)
Advent
Christmas and Epiphany
Transfiguration and Lent
Easter
Pentecost to Proper Sixteen
Proper Seventeen to The Reign of Christ
Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary (Click on the season you wish to see)
Advent
Christmas and Epiphany
Transfiguration and Lent
Easter
Trinity Sunday to Proper Sixteen
Proper Seventeen to The Reign of Christ
Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary (Click on the season you wish to see)
Advent
Christmas and Epiphany
Transfiguration and Lent
Easter
Pentecost to Proper Sixteen
Proper Seventeen to Reign of Christ
For more on Glenn Morison and his book that led to this page, check out The Things We Say.
All this material is copyleft. Feel free to use it however you see fit, with or without attribution.
If you wish to value this page, please make a donation to the Winnipeg Quaker Meeting.
This week's entry
Proper 7
June 24, 2018
Question Authority
I had these words on a bumper sticker on the back of my 1977 Dodge Monaco. Border crossing officers consistently found it worthy of comment, and often more than just comment. Timothy Leary, the LSD guru, is associated with this phrase. While others, including Carl Sagan and J.K. Rowling, have used these words, "Think for yourself and question authority" sums up Leary's teaching in a nutshell. He talks about the opportunities that we have in our contemporary culture, rather than a hunter-gatherer society where there are only two ways to think: hunter and gatherer. He questions the value of ancient understandings like "the Lord is our shepherd" saying the modern human is not a sheep but an active sensate, thinking, processing being that is free to make choices. We are not sheep like at all. His thinking extends to questioning the media (and this was before the Internet became what it is) and its influence and control of our thoughts. We have so many authorities that one would think questioning them is a necessity.
Mark 5:41-42
He took her by the hand and said to her,
“Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!”
And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about
(she was twelve years of age).
At this they were overcome with amazement.
A function of many of the miracle stories is the assertion of Jesus authority. In this case it led to amazement. However one could point to stories such as the cleansing of the temple, told in all four Gospels, to say that it was Jesus’ questioning of authority that led to his death. However, not many years later, the church was teaching the opposite, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities." (Romans 13:1) I have mentioned the importance of timing in other entries in this book. I am not one that adheres much to rules that fit all situations.
Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary (Click on the season you wish to see)
Advent
Christmas and Epiphany
Transfiguration and Lent
Easter
Pentecost to Proper Sixteen
Proper Seventeen to The Reign of Christ
Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary (Click on the season you wish to see)
Advent
Christmas and Epiphany
Transfiguration and Lent
Easter
Trinity Sunday to Proper Sixteen
Proper Seventeen to The Reign of Christ
Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary (Click on the season you wish to see)
Advent
Christmas and Epiphany
Transfiguration and Lent
Easter
Pentecost to Proper Sixteen
Proper Seventeen to Reign of Christ
For more on Glenn Morison and his book that led to this page, check out The Things We Say.
All this material is copyleft. Feel free to use it however you see fit, with or without attribution.
If you wish to value this page, please make a donation to the Winnipeg Quaker Meeting.