Mind the Gap: Lectionary Commentary

Whether you listened once, or you downloaded every episode, thank you so much for being part of this project. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 14:20 - reading from Joel 17:56 - commentary for Joel 29:58 - reading from Matthew 33:10 - commentary for Matthew 52:27 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for Ash Wednesday (2026) Joel 2:3-11 and Matthew 6:7-15 Hosts: Past...

We begin today's episode with an important announcement about the podcast, and then we continue to discuss what "confidence" means in our life of faith, how to respond to situations of violence and tension, and what some of the overall things we've learned about scripture and preaching from this project. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 09:09 - reading the Psalm 11:1...

Having our walls crumble, our defenses lowered, our vulnerabilities exposed--these things can hurt and be scary. But how might they be opening us to blessing others and receiving blessings in return? Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:53 - reading the Psalm 10:25 - commentary 31:45 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for 4th Sunday of Advent in Year A (2025) Psal...

The psalm for this week has an interesting lectionary history, and the gap verses contain an important fulcrum for its meaning.  Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 05:45 - reading the Psalm 08:37 - commentary 30:59 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for 2nd Sunday of Advent in Year A (2025) Psalm 72:8-17 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland M...

These two readings couldn't be more tonally different, but we still found it helpful to remember the poetic elements of the psalms and the original context of the New Testament epistles. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:31 - reading the Psalm 10:28 - commentary 17:45 - reading the 2 Thessalonians text 21:01 - commentary 40:01 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary...

'Tis the season... for apocalyptic readings.  Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 06:16 - reading the Daniel text 10:25 - commentary on Daniel 21:54 - reading the 2 Thessalonians text 24:23 - commentary on 2 Thessalonians 35:25 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost in Year C and All Saints Sunday in Year C (2025) Daniel 7:4-14 and 2...

The texts for Reformation Sunday don't have any gaps... but the texts for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost do! If you need a break from the same readings year after year of Reformations, consider giving the other passages a try. We found solid connections and possibilities for Reformation Sunday sermons in both of these gaps. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:29 - r...

All the texts for this week confront us with how we relate to those whom we consider "outsiders" or even "enemies." Perseverance, undeserved mercy, and stubborn hope show up as themes. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 06:04 - reading the Jeremiah text 08:02 - commentary on Jeremiah 15:55 - reading the 2 Kings text 19:32 - commentary on 2 Kings 31:44 - outro sequence...

This is the only time Habakkuk shows up in the lectionary, so let's talk about this minor prophet! Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:49 - reading the text 11:48 - commentary 26:29 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost in Year C (2025) Habakkuk 1:5-17 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland Music: London Calli...

Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 10:45 - reading from Jeremiah 14:17 - Jeremiah commentary 25:48 - reading from the Psalms 28:06 - Psalm commentary 37:12 - reading from Amos 39:00 - Amos commentary 01:04:57 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost in Year C (2025) Jeremiah 32:3b-5, Psalm 91:7-13, and Amos 6:1b-3 Hosts: Pastor Annemar...

Human violence and ecological suffering are linked in this gap from the prophet Jeremiah. We use it to talk about some basic reflection questions that are helpful for any kind of biblical exegesis: What does it tell us about the character of God? The character of humanity? What does it feel like from the perspective of a variety of points of view? Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's...

Folks looking for commentary on today's gap can also check out Episode 34, the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany in Year B (2024). BUT, we found several different directions for liturgy and preaching this time around, so we hope you'll join our conversation! Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:33 - reading the text 10:12 - commentary 23:34 - outro sequence Lectionary comment...

As Lutheran preachers, the cross is central to our preaching and teaching. We think some of the gaps this week actually help us do that. We hope everyone has a safe Labor Day weekend--let us give thanks for the blood shed by our ancestors in the workers' rights movement. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:12 - reading the Psalm 10:31 - commentary on the Psalm 15:57...

The gospel lesson for this Sunday is a doozy, and this gap in the semi-continuous psalm also has difficult themes. These passages ask us to confront the depth of our sin and brokenness--how do we find God's mercy and hope within them, too? Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 09:50 - reading the scripture 12:32 - commentary 36:10 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary fo...

Lectionary commentary for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost in Year C (2025) Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland Music: London Calling by Ryan Andersen FMA Podcast Suggestion by Stephan Siebert from the Free Music Archive , CC BY-NC

This is the only Sunday in the lectionary cycle with a reading from Ecclesiastes, folks, so let's get mystical! We're thrilled to have guest Sally Messner discussing these gaps with us. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 12:41 - reading the scripture 19:35 - commentary 48:07 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost in Year C (2025) Eccl...

In this gap, Jesus helps us with interpreting Hebrew scriptures. The gap also encourages us to rethink our "us vs them" mentalities, and it provides an image of repentance that leaves space for grief. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:55 - reading the scripture 12:16 - commentary 30:31 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost in Yea...

These sure are unprecedented times... Welcome to our first-ever FOUR GAP EPISODE. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 10:23 - reading from 2 Kings 12:54 - commentary on 2 Kings 20:31 - reading from Psalm 77 22:48 - commentary on Psalm 77 33:09 - reading from 1 Kings 35:25 - commentary on 1 Kings 48:45 - reading from Galatians 52:47 - commentary on Galatians 01:10:05 - o...

Ecumenism and messiness in the midst of faithfulness--join us in talking about the Trinity through the lens of Wisdom. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 10:14 - scripture reading 14:06 - commentary 40:18 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for Holy Trinity Sunday in Year C (2025) Proverbs 8:5-21 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland Music: Lon...

In which we discuss the copyright practices of the ancient Levant and also talk about why it is harmful to try to build hierarchies of sin. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 06:59 - scripture reading 09:18 - commentary 28:47 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the seventh Sunday of Easter in Year C (2025) Revelation 22:15, 18-19 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-...

Sometimes measurements are not about comparison, but about celebration. Revelation can be a difficult book to study let alone preach from, but this gap ended up being a really spiritual experience for both of us. Join us as we talk about dozens of dozens and the childlike wonder of the New Jerusalem. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:48 - scripture reading 11:49 -...

There has been an occasion or two during the course of this project where we have recorded an episode and then simply been unable to do all the work necessary to publish it before the Sunday of the readings. Since there are currently no gaps in the lectionary until the 6th Sunday of Easter, today we are posting one of those “lost episodes.” Just for funsies and completeness. Please join us for a d...

God's steadfast love endures forever, and we steadfastly cling to the promise of the resurrection. Blessings to all the preachers heading into Holy Week. You've got this. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 05:44 - scripture reading 08:45 - commentary 25:40 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for Easter Sunday (2025) Psalm 118:3-13 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Coo...

Affliction. Expectations. Trouble. It might be the third year in a row we've talked about these gaps, but the Holy Spirit is always bringing up new perspectives for us. We found some really fruitful directions for Maundy Thursday sermons, not to mention getting to talk about preaching choices for Good Friday, and we hope you'll tune in to listen to us talk about them. Timestamps: 00:01 - title seq...

Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 05:12 - scripture reading 10:05 - commentary 27:03 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for Lent 4C (2025) Luke 15:4-11a Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland Music: London Calling by Ryan Andersen FMA Podcast Suggestion by Stephan Siebert from the Free Music Archive , CC BY-NC