The ministry of interpretation

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For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Florer-Bixler's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and online-only content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

In the Talmud, there is a story of a group of rabbis arguing over the status of a particular clay oven. Is it clean or unclean? Rabbi Eliezer stands alone against the interpretation given by his fellow sages, and he begins to call upon nature to confirm him.