Pentecost +8 – Year AGenesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67Chapter 1 – female
and male created togetherChapter 2 – Eve created from side of
AdamChapter 12 – Sari and Abram were already togetherChapter 24 –
Rebekah comes from a distant well to be by Isaac's sideThere is a
rhythm of togetherness and separateness that keeps running through the
scriptures and our lives. This seems to be part of the nature of
creation stories – rhythm. In the separateness narratives it seems the
female is much more interesting as a character. She is described with a
better script and at the juncture of plot thickening and development.
In light of the Gospel text, the women carry the burdens and release
new possibilities as the guys muddle along. Patriarchy may be a
compensation for the lesser role. It certainly raises the stakes and
makes the female roles all the more significant for the resistance they
have to deal with.Patriarchs are famous for saying "Dance" and "Don't
Dance" at the same time. These instructions may stand behind another
categorization of females – Harlot and Virgin.Note how little Isaac has
to do with bride selection compared with decisions Rebekah faces and
makes.

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Posted By Wesley White to Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Dialogue at
7/01/2008 07:15:00 AM