Month: March 2022

Sunday 3^rd April 2022 (’01) : 5thSUNinLENT : C

1. Is43·16-21

• Read IS42:5 – 44.8! Selfpresentation of Yahweh-of-Sinai to TbeExiles in Babylon! prommising a ‘NewExodus’ (modeled on ‘TheFirstExodus-fromEgypt’)!
• ‘ANewDeed!‘: Has OldRoncalli’s call for ‘Aggiornamento‘ achieved anything?
• Other than increased authoritarianism, medievalism, rhetoric, &apathy?
• If the essential ‘Weakness of Yahweh’ is concealed by bullish ‘god-talk‘?
• &If boastful ‘YahwehOracles’ are taken as ‘factual’ rather than ‘wishful thinking’?

2. THE PSALM: 125:1-6

• Read 1IS44 21– 45.17! What? Yahweh called CyrusTheMede as a ‘NewMoses’?
• What would equal nowadays, TheRestoration ofYahweh’sPeople from Exile, by the Yahweh-inspired Initative of a ‘pagan’?
• What if Yahweh’sContemporaryPeople don’t perceive themselves ‘InExile‘?
• Which Individuals&Groups in my local church are ‘SufferingExile’?
• Especially by being denied access to important resources (Which ones, I pray you?)!
• What rituals are we creating, so as to restore ‘exiles’ to ‘fullness-of–presence’?

3. PHIL3·8-14

• ‘KnowingChristJesusMyLord‘ (Compare Archbishop Brady’s Motto)’!

What sorts of ‘knowledge’ do I have, of ‘ChristJesus”‘

Would I regard all else as ‘Loss, Dung, &Refuse’, by comparison?

How am I being encouraged&enabled to ‘ShareHisDeath’?

Am I content that Paul here be understood ‘devotionally’?

‘Knowmg&BeinginChrist’! I mean, mightn’t that be sorta risky?

4 JN8·1-ll

• What ‘interpretations’ have I been given for this ambivalent narrative?
• Apart from ‘the woman’, are all the others in the story, men?
• What other biblical stories are evoked? (Read GEN38! DAN13/Susanna)
• What is the radical question being posed in this narrative?
• Why is there such appetite in our world for all kinds of ‘condemnation’?
• ‘Adultery!‘: Read DT22! EZEK16! Why 1s ‘TheLawOfMoses’ so harsh?
• ‘Test!’: How is this happening nowadays? &To whom? &With what effect?
• In 100 words, how will ‘the woman’ describe ‘the inner&outer’ of it all?

5. The presence&action of the BlessedOne, is it like this?

‘Yeah, I was above this morinin’! the usual givin’-out.’ ‘Drink drugs an’ sex, I s’pose” ‘No, the woman taken in adult’ry!’ ‘What’d he mean be...’ ‘Seems this woman was caught, well, like…’ ‘Like Lady-Somethin’-or-other, I pizzoom!’ ‘Anyway, they put on their crowns an’ gowns, dragged her along th’ side a’ th’ temple t‘ Jesus.. ‘ ‘Annoyin’ Him as-per–usual!’ ‘An’ said, bold-as-brass, “No shillyshally! Shouldn’t she be crushed wit’ heavy stones...!”..‘ ‘God, them’s some tulips t’ be..‘ ‘Accordin’ t’ Moses?” ‘ ‘Nowadays, if y’ go be what y’ hear, th‘ heavy–stone-brigade ‘d be kep’ busy!’ ‘But that’s what the-man-above said, “Any of yous in th’ gowns, or me-own crowd either, who thinks they’re without sin, take this stone here, an‘ crush her skull!'” ‘Begod! A great showstopper! like somethin’ th’ oul’ Canon ‘d come up with” ‘Aw y’re right! He was taken from us, but! Just as things was really goin‘ t‘ th’ dogs!!‘

6 RIDDLE  The best prize of all! Heaven? Selfrealisation?

Preferment? Justification?

Refections and comments can be emailed to adbi@chokmah.ie

Sunday 27^th March 2022 4thSUNinLENT : C

1. JOSH5·9-12

• Read 5·1-12! Entering Canaan’ another realisation of TheParting-of-TheSea!
• Circumcision of the ‘wilderness males’! another Consecration-to-Yahweh’
• The ‘Shame-of-Egypt’ is removed for the men! but what of the women?
• Why is it said three-times in this excerpt, that they ate food from Canaan?
• TheManna stoppt falling! What is hinted here? Blessing or curse? (Read EXOD16!)
• When&how did I reject mollycoddling, &become an adultChristian?
• &Ifl I settle in ‘Canaan’, can I still ‘love-Yahweh-with-all-my-heart’?

2. THE PSALM: 33:2-7

• Read 33(34):1-22! Enthusiastic testimony of one-devoted-to-Yahweh,

about HisCare&Protection! But is He ‘inside-like-breath’? Or ‘outside-like-a-king’?

• What does Yahweh benefit from all the adulation&impetration?
• Is Discerning&SpeakingTruth encouraged (or not!) in myChurch&Commumty?
• How do I imagine ‘praying for favours’ actually ‘works’?
• In my local church, what is the palpable equivalent of ‘Yahweh/TheLord’?
• ‘Terror !’· What are ‘TheTwelveSorts-of-Terror’ that assail me as an adult?

3. 2COR5·17-21

• Read 4:1 – 6:12! His strikingly-enthusiastic apologia as a preacher!
• Can I express in 35 words my Understanding&Experience of being ‘In-Christ’?
• “‘Reconciliation!’: Is this easier ‘between-us&God’, or ‘between-us&others’?
• How am I valuing&attaining ‘reconciliation’ between disparate parts of myself?
• “‘Sin!’: How could even ‘God’ make ‘TheSinLessOne (Himself?) into Sin’?
• TheGoodnessOfGod! Us? what an extravagant illusion! Or maybe we’re showing it?

4. LK15.1-3, 11-32

• What other ‘Father&TwoSons’ stories in TheBible?
• What interpretations have I been given for this Jesus-narrative?
• Is there an impression too, that ‘Father&SonTransactions’ are paramount?
• Which of these three men is most biblical, most realistic, most cunning?
• “If the property was actually ‘divided’, why is the elder son so ‘impoverished’?
• Imagine a very frank exchange between these three very self-centred men’

5. The presence&action of the BlessedOne, is it like this?

Mam droppt Effie at the little farmhouse for her regular Thursday-visit! &as she began the awkward awkard of turning the LandRover in the street, Gran waved her to hold it! ‘Madge, I nearly forgot’ How’s Samantha after her hard bout a’ flu? she musta been weeks…’ ‘Gran, she’s really bounced back’ She’s put on so much condition, in fact, she laffs, “I’ve got like the fatted calf! I better watch, or they’ll feed me to the younger son!”, that’s Boysie’s brother, who’s an even worse pain-in-the­ winda’ than Boysie!’ &Off she sped in a hall of gravel! Back in the kitchen, Effie waited til Gran set out the stuff for the ritual making-of-bread ! Then she moved her give-out! ‘Gran!’ ‘Yes, luveen?’ ‘The fatted calf? Why’d Sam think they’d feed her to Midgie?’ ‘In the old days, the people kept a special calf, in case someone important turned up an’ had to be fed!’ ‘Or a chickkie, or a nice loafie?’ ‘Yes’ an’ Jesus said that God has a special..’ ‘Fatted herinn’, Gran?’ ‘…for you, Effie.. ‘ ‘..an’ you, Gran!’ ‘. not just a fatted calf or herrin’…’ … but a fatted everythin’! great great!!’

6. RIDDLE  TheFather! FoolKnaveSaintDitherer, or what?

Refections and comments can be emailed to adbi@chokmah.ie

                          Sunday 20^th March 2022 (’01)   3^rd. Sunday in Lent

1. EXOD3, 1-8, 13-15

• Read 3: 1-22! What! Two narrative-divinities in TheBush, Yahweh/TheLord& Elohim/God, each with a different ‘agenda?’ (‘Holiness’ & ‘Freedom’)
• Is that ‘blazing unburnt tree’ merely to attract him? Or something much deeper?
• Does this storyteller try to create the impression that ‘God’ & ‘TheLord’ are one?
• TheBurningUnconsumedBush!

                What aspect of my adult experience is evoked by this?

                 Is TheBush linked with one or both of The Trees in TheGarden? (GEN 2/3)

                  Are there any other similarly-ambivalant biblical images?

2. THE PSALM : 102: 1-4, 6-8, 11

• Read 102(103): 1-22! Some important imagining of ‘Yahweh!’
• Is it better to praise a divinity for this or that, or find it embodied in myself?
• ‘Ways&Deeds!’ : Yahweh’s moral priorities, to be ‘behaved,’ not just ‘sung!’
• If ‘Yahweh’ is CompassionateLovePatienceMercy, what’s preventing me from action?

3. 1COR10: 1-6, 10-12

• Read 10:1-11:1! Was he aware of the extent to which ‘TheOtherGods’ permeated the totality of CorinthianSociety? & How powerful and deep-rooted they were?
• Read EXOD32/TheGoldenCalf! Numbers11/TheComplaining! N14/ TheRevoltAtParan! N16/Korah&Dathen&Abiram! N21/TheBronzeSerpent! N25/BaalPeor!
• What about a religion that’s so full of (largely-futile) dire-warnings?
• In 35words, what is my ‘spirituality?’ How is it being nourished & pruned & renewed?

4. LK13 1-9

• Is there a hint that those Galileans died because they hadn’t ‘repented?’
• What connection can I see, between ‘not repenting’ & ‘perishing?’
• Repentence! Active change-of-heart away from TheOtherGods to embody Yahweh?
• ‘Perish!’ From Yahweh’s point of view, Not-to-have- EmbodiedHim is a wasted life!
• Fruit!
• Am I expecting fruit from myself or others, without making provision?
• How can I expect fruit without PatientCongruentStrenuousAction?
• ‘TheGardener’ is more compassionate than ‘TheOwner!’

5. The presence & action of the BlessedOne, is it like this? 

‘Let there be no prevarication! No mealymouthedness! TheHolySeason-of-Lent is unquestionably an invitation to Change-of-heart!’ The OfficialBeliever nodded in quiet satisfaction! This assertion was unassailable! ‘An admirable sentiment!’

The PractisingSceptic drily concurred! ‘But whatHeart! & whatChange, I pray? & Is it purely & simply a matter of getting the formulation right, & bob’s-your-uncle?’ ‘Try for once not to be offensive..’ ‘Offensive? What is more offensive than your own pompous imagining, that so-called ‘AdultChristians’ will desire, or manage, to throw-off the very real shackles of TheOtherGods! Just because your gobbledegook.’

‘Permesso! Do me the honour of admitting that I speak, not only with authority, but with power to…’ ‘If you please! & if you’re able! Leave TheMiddleAges, & step into TheThirdMillenium!’ ‘TheSon-of-Man transcends…’  ‘Perhaps! But you don’t! No one takes any heed…’ ‘Vade retro Satana! Nunquam saude mihi vana…!’

6. Riddle:            Which is more fruitful? ThreatWarningPromiseExampleInspirationRevelation?

Refections and comments can be emailed to adbi@chokmah.ie

                                                Sunday 13^th March 2022 (’01)      2^nd Sunday of Lent Year C

                                                            ADBI notes from Sun 11^th.March 2001

1. Gen 15.5-12, 17-18 (vv13-16, something too blatant?)

• Read 15 1-21! A nomadic charter! The fantasy of becoming a ‘settled people’ through
• The Promises&Exertions of their intimately-bonded divinity!
• Nile-to-Euphrates! Would the indigenous peoples  have to leave, die, or be enslaved?
• Why do the ‘patriarchal’ narratives portray such a ‘user-friendly-Yahweh?’
• In contrast, say, to the moody unfrabjous divinity of the ‘exodus’ stories?
• ‘Justified!’ : If I am totally-rooted-in-Yahweh, I am thereby ‘right-with-Him!’
• How do ‘YahwehConversations’ (as in this story) take place nowadays?
• The techniques&symbolisms&theatrics of ‘Covenant,’ where are they for me?

2. THE PSALM 26.1, 7-9, 13-14

• Read 26(27) 1-14! TheShoutSong of the totally-committed to TheMoodyOne!
• Or is it also just another of TheTemple’s rhetorical flourishes? (Read IS6!)
• What about a world,

           Where night (apart from full moon) was darkness-enveloped?

           Where ‘normal life’ was at risk from marauders famines plagues?

            Where ‘philosophy’ and ‘science’ were unavailable, for ‘alternative answers!’

           Where a religious elite basically unaccountable, basically ran the show?

           Where dreams feelings symptoms accidents failures were ‘spirit-induced!’

3. PHIL3. 17-4:1 (Why is a shorter form offered?)

• Read1 1-4:23 Glimpse of the Vicissitudes of Preachers&theirCommunities!
• Is this English Version (Jerusalem) somewhat starchy&euphemistic?
• In my world, what are The10Characteristics of ‘AnEnemyofChrist’sCross?
• What about Paul’s 4BriefPreacher’sBites concerning them?
• In what sense can ‘TheLordJesusChrist’ subdue TheWholwUniverse?
• ‘Faithful-in-the-Lord!’  What above-all enables me to behave in my world as Jesus did in His? & is this important  resource scarce, or renewable?

4. LUKE 28-36

• Read 9:1-62 Narrative tableau exploring the disciple’s ambivilant  many-sidedness.
• ‘Moses&Elijah!’  Two blocks of extremely varied and overflattered narratives!
• ‘Mountain!’ Every mountain is Sinai! & Whoever climbs it Frees-from-Egypt!
• What indications in this narrative, that Jesus is ‘TheOneWhoIsToCome?’
• Why does Peter seemingly want to ‘retain’ Moses&Elijah with them?
• Did the early desciples find it difficult to accept that ‘JesusAloneSuffices?
• But have i too been enabled & encouraged to ‘TransformHim’ into-my-now?
• What significant ‘ transformational factors’ did the desciples endure there?

5. The presence&action of the BlessedOne, is it like this?

Amen! TheNew&EternalCovenant-of-the-BlessedOne! Made in This-One’s blood&Breath&Bone! Consummated all the days & all the nights! Between Yochanaan’s

Shout-at-Jordan & This-One’sShout-at-Golgotha! TheTwoPlaces-of-GreatBreath! & like

FullMoon between TheTwoBeginnings, Moment-of-Stillness, Moment-of-Fire! On Holy Thabor, Mountain-of-Ascents, TheAngel-of-TheAncestralPilgrims embraced This-One!

TheBirth&Death-of-This-One into TheKiss-of-Shekinah! TheLongedFor, TheUnimaginable The Unlosable!  TheSeal-of-Total-Investment-of-TheName! Amen!

6. RIDDLE    Which ‘ExodusImage’ is paramount? WildernessRamCovenantSea MountainTestingCloudComplainingFireSerpentTentFlood?

Refections and comments can be emailed to adbi@chokmah.ie