First Reading

Resurrection or Stubbornness? Lectionary Date: November 6, 2022 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Tim tries to pull the lectionary reading back into its context.

Enthroned over the Monsters Lectionary Date: November 1, 2022 [All Saints Day, Year C] Rosy explores the strange imagery of Daniel's vision.

The Many Days of the Lord Lectionary Date: October 23, 2022 [20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Locusts? Armies? Shame, vindication, and salvation? Peter's speech at Pentecost? There is a ton going on in this short reading. This week, Rosy and Tim are joined by Dr. Mari Joerstad, Academic Dean and Professor of Hebrew Bible at Vancouver School of Theology. Dr. Joerstad’s work focuses on issues of...

Wrestling in the Ambiguity Lectionary Date: October 16, 2022 [19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy takes us deep into a story of messy encounter with God.

Finding Her Voice Lectionary Date: October 9, 2022 [18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel calls our attention to the true (unsung) hero of this story.

Questions without Answers Lectionary Date: October 2, 2022 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy connects Habakkuk's battery of questions to a traumatic historical context.

The Law as Gospel Lectionary Date: September 25, 2022 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Hoi! Rachel reads the prophet Amos giving an invitation to a different perspective on "comfort."

Selling the Poor for a Pair of Sandals Lectionary Date: September 18, 2022 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy challenges our spending habits (and their human cost) as she channels the prophet Amos.

Changing God's Mind? Lectionary Date: September 11, 2022 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Tim explores some curious biblical "intertextuality" in this week's lection.

The Slipperiness of Clay Lectionary Date: September 4, 2022 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Steed Vernyl Davidson. Dr. Davidson is the Dean of the Faculty, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and a Professor of Hebrew Bible / Old Testament at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He is also an ordained elder within the United Methodist Chu...

Genuine Humility Lectionary Date: August 28, 2022 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy percolates in a deceptively simple proverb.

Feeling God's Call Lectionary Date: August 21, 2022 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel connects the language of Isaiah to our own experiences of divine calling.

A Metaphor Inside a Metaphor Lectionary Date: August 14, 2022 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Tim dips into the First Reading vault to pull out a classic episode.

Things are not Always as they Seem Lectionary Date: August 7, 2022 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel traces the surprising development of a hopeful psalm.

Wrestling with the Act-Consequence Nexus Lectionary Date: July 31, 2022 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel dives into Qohelet to mess with a sometimes problematic platitude.

A Challenging Marriage Metaphor in Context Lectionary Date: July 24, 2022 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, First Reading is thrilled to have Dr. Gale Yee as our guest scholar to help us with a dense, troubling, and rich text. Dr. Yee is the Nancy W. King Professor of Biblical Studies, emerita, at Episcopal Divinity School. She served as the President of the Society of Biblical Liter...

The Ministry that Happens at Tables Lectionary Date: July 17, 2022 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy puts Abraham and Sarah's pop-up dinner party in conversation with Martha's ministry.

A Somewhat Confusing Poem Lectionary Date: July 10, 2022 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, we'd love to promote an episode by friend-of-the-podcast, Dr. Brent Strawn. Brent is a past guest on First Reading, and has a great episode all about Psalm 82 on his podcast, "In Parallel." Here's a link to the episode . Enjoy!

An Embodied Experience of God Lectionary Date: July 3, 2022 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel explores a passage with fascinatingly embodied imagery.

First, Let Me Say Good-bye Lectionary Date: June 26, 2022 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy explores Elisha's transition when he decided to follow a new divine call.

What Got You Here May Not Get You There Lectionary Date: June 19, 2022 [2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Tim makes connections between Elijah's divine encounter and Moses' experience.

A Party Episode for Preacher Wisdom Lectionary Date: June 12, 2022 [Trinity Sunday, Year C] All three co-hosts are together for a deep dive into the poetry about Woman/Preacher Wisdom!

What Pentecost Felt Like Lectionary Date: June 5, 2022 [Day of Pentecost, Year C] Rachel explores the sensations of Pentecost for the disciples and for God!

Slaves Set Free Lectionary Date: May 29, 2022 [7th Sunday of Easter, Year C] Rosy draws our attention to the enslaved girl who is overlooked in this story.

Paul's Prophetic Travel Guide and Host Lectionary Date: May 22, 2022 [6th Sunday of Easter, Year C] Tim sees a pattern in Paul's travels.