At Home with the Lectionary

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 22 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 17:5-10 ; 2 Timothy 1:1-14 ; Lamentations 3:19-26 or Psalm 137 ; Lamentations 1:1-6 . This week, we consider the hard words of lament in Psalm 137 and Lamentations, and the challenge of grappling with the reality of incomprehensible human suffering and pain . We also ponder the mysteriou...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 21 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 16:19-31 ; 1 Timothy 6:6-19 ; Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 ; Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 . We discuss Jesus's parable of the rich man and Lazarus wherein He aptly describes the human situation and the fact that, without repentance & the reorientation that comes through God's Word, we all...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 20 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 16:1-13 ; 1 Timothy 2:1-7 ; Psalm 79:1-9 ; Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 . We discuss the surrounding context of Jesus' teaching of the shrewd steward as well as His wise words about the love of money, take a brief look at Paul's "first of all" charge to Timothy,  and meditate on...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 19 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 15:1-10 ; 1 Timothy 1:12-17 ; Psalm 14 ; Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28. We consider Jesus' parables about the lost sheep and the lost coin (or the good woman!) and the ways they reveal the celebration over repentance and read Paul's personal testimony of the riches of Christ's m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 18 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 14:25-33 ; Philemon 1-21 ; Psalm 139:1-5,12-17 ; Jeremiah 18:1-11 . We discuss Jesus' honest description of the cost of being His follower and consider Paul's letter to Philemon regarding his beloved brother in Christ, the once-slave Onesimus. We also wonder at God's omnis...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 17 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 14:1,7-14 ; Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16 ; Psalm 81:1,10-16 ; Jeremiah 2:4-13 . We discuss the layers of Jesus' teaching about being hosts and attendees at banquets in the kingdom, consider the closing exhortations of the book of Hebrews, meditate on the beauty of a festal Psalm that confes...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 16 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 13:10-17 ; Hebrews 12:18-29 ; Psalm 71:1-6 ; Jeremiah 1:4-10 . We discuss Jesus' unbinding of the woman who cannot stand straight as well as His rebuke of the synagogue leader who misunderstands the nature of Sabbath restoration. We consider the unshakeable promises of Hebrews 12, t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 15 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 12:49-56 ; Hebrews 11:29-12:2 ; Psalm 80:1-2,8-18 ; Isaiah 5:1-7 . We discuss the Lord's love for His people, as seen in His provision and care for His vineyard Israel and His promised future and faithfulness for all His people. We also consider the bitterness of injustice and wicke...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 14 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 12:32-40 ; Hebrews 11:1-16 ; Psalm 50:1-8,23-24 ; Isaiah 1:1,10-20 . We discuss Jesus' teaching about stewardship, specifically the story of a household waiting expectantly for the master's return. We consider the exemplary heroes in the faith who speak and act as though they a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 13 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 12:13-21 ; Colossians 3:1-11 ; Psalm 107:1-9, 43 ; Hosea 11:1-11 . The readings this week are rich: Jesus' parable of the fool storing up treasure; Paul's exhortation to renew our minds and hide ourselves in Christ, thereby putting off the old disordered, idolatrous ways of rel...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 12 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 11:1-13 ; Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) ; Psalm 85 ; Hosea 1:2-10 . We discuss Jesus' teaching on prayer, Paul's theological focus on Christ's supremacy as an antidote for legalism, the quiet beauty of the Psalm, and the context for Hosea's ministry. Notes: Here is Fr Aar...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 11  (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 10:38-42 ; Colossians 1:15-28 ; Psalm 52 ; Amos 8:1-12 . We begin at the home of Mary & Martha and consider the way Jesus sees and names Martha's condition, invites her to intimacy, and gently corrects her desire to boss her sister. We discuss Paul's masterful doxological...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 10 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 10:25-37 ; Colossians 1:1-14 ; Psalm 82 ; Amos 7:7-17 . We begin with the expert in the law's question, "Who is my neighbor?" and Jesus' incisive and direct response in the story of the Good Samaritan. We consider the affectionate companionship of Paul and his colabor...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 9 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 10:1-11, 16-29 ; Galatians 6:1-16 ; Psalm 30 ; 2 Kings 5:1-14 . We discuss Jesus’ commission to the 72 to go before Him, healing the sick and proclaiming that the Kingdom has drawn near; Paul’s closing instructions to the church at Galatia; the emotive rhythms of Psalm 30;  and a young Is...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for Proper 8 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 9:51-62 ; Galatians 5:1,13-25 ; Psalm 77:1-2,11-20 ; 2 Kings 2:1-2,6-14 . We discuss the town in Samaria rejecting Jesus and His followers' response, the freedom we have in the Spirit to love our neighbors as ourselves, the Psalmist's majestic description of God's glory reve...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for Proper 7 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 8:26-39 ; Galatians 3:23-29 ; Psalm 42-43 ; 1 Kings 19:1-15 . We explore Jesus' encounter with the Gerasene demoniac - the destitution of his life and the restoration Jesus brings, Paul's repeated use of the theme of being clothed with Christ, the emotional honesty of the Psalms...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday after Pentecost (Year C in the lectionary cycle): John 16:12-15 ; Romans 5:1-6 ; Proverbs 8:1-4,22-31 ; Canticle 13 ; Psalm 8 . We discuss the origins and challenges of Trinity Sunday, wonder how the disciples would have received Jesus' words about the promised Holy Spirit, consider in the playfulne...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for Pentecost Sunday (Year C in the lectionary cycle): John 14:8-17,25-27 ; Romans 8:14-17 ; Psalm 104:25-37 ; Genesis 11:1-9 ; Acts 2:1-21 . We consider Jesus's promise to not leave us as orphans and to send the Holy Spirit, adopting us as children and heirs. We discuss the Psalm's joyful delight in God's creative generosity...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for the seventh Sunday in Easter (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Acts 16:16-34 ; Psalm 97 ; Revelation 22:12-21 ; John 17:20-26 . We also consider the Gospel and Epistle readings for Ascension Day : Luke 24:44-53 and Ephesians 1:15-23 . We consider Jesus's high priestly prayer for all believers, the closing verses of the New Testamen...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for the sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Acts 16:9-15 ; Psalm 67 ; John 14:23-29 ; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 . We consider the layered implications of the Upper Room Discourse, the magnificent promise that the Lord dwells with His people, the beauty of the New Jerusalem and the promised healing for all nations, and t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for the fifth Sunday of Easter (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Acts 11:1-18 ; Psalm 148 ; Revelation 21:1-6 : John 13:31-35 . We consider what it means to be Jesus' children marked by His love that we have for one another, the glorious heart-longing promises ofRevelation 21, the hymnody of all creation commanded to praise the Lord, a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for the fourth Sunday of Easter (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Acts 9:36-43 ; Psalm 23 ; Revelation 7:9-17 ; John 10:22-30 . We consider the imagery of shepherd and sheep across the texts: Jesus’ declaration that He knows His sheep, the depiction of Jesus as the Lamb, and the comfort of having the Lord shepherd us through the dangers and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for the third Sunday of Easter (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Acts 9:1-20 ; Psalm 30 ; Revelation 5:11-14 ; John 21:1-19 . We consider the reinstatement of Peter and the term "one whom Jesus loves," the dramatic moments of Saul's conversion, the life-giving truth that we all are in need of and can delight in the Lord'...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the readings for the second Sunday of Easter (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Acts 5:27-32 ; Psalm 150 ; Revelation 1:4-8 ; John 20:19-31 . We consider "doubting" (or should it be "believing"?) Thomas the Twin, the graciousness of Jesus to reveal Himself in ways that cultivate belief, the richness of the identifying marks on His bod...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss four of the many readings for Easter Sunday (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Acts 10:34-43 ; Psalm 118:1-2,14-24 ; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 ; Luke 24:1-12 . We join the women at the tomb as they cycle through grief, perplexity, and terror before they remember Jesus' words and so find hope and eagerness to share the good news. We marvel at Paul'...