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Readings for Sunday, March 5, 2017 First Sunday in Lent Year A

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

 

First Reading and Psalm

  • Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
  • Psalm 32

Second Reading

  • Romans 5:12-19

Gospel

  • Matthew 4:1-11

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

The first humans are given a beautiful garden to look after and enjoy, except that the LORD God commands them not to eat of the fruit of just one of the trees. The woman encounters the serpent who casts doubt on the word of God and, attracted to the forbidden fruit, she eats of it and then shares it with her husband. Their disobedience results in an immediate awareness of their nakedness. The Psalmist rejoices in the fact that his sin is forgiven because he has finally come to confess it before God. He now knows he can trust in the ways of YAHWEH and encourages others to do the same. St. Paul sees in Adam a mirror image of Christ in the sense that through Adam all have sinned and been alienated from God, resulting in death but through Christ’s obedience all are made right with God, resulting in life. After Jesus had been tempted for forty days and nights, the devil came and, twisting the Word of God, tries to turn him from the way of God. However, Jesus knows well the truth of the Scriptures and uses it to rebuke the devil and continue in obedience to his Father.

As Introductions

Old Testament

The first humans are given a beautiful garden to look after and enjoy, except that the LORD God commands them not to eat of the fruit of just one of the trees. The woman encounters the serpent who casts doubt on the word of God and, attracted to the forbidden fruit, she eats of it and then shares it with her husband. Their disobedience results in an immediate awareness of their nakedness

Psalm

The Psalmist rejoices in the fact that his sin is forgiven because he has finally come to confess it before God. He now knows he can trust in the ways of YAHWEH and encourages others to do the same.

New Testament

St. Paul sees in Adam a mirror image of Christ in the sense that through Adam all have sinned and been alienated from God, resulting in death but through Christ’s obedience all are made right with God, resulting in life.

Gospel

After Jesus had been tempted for forty days and nights, the devil came and, twisting the Word of God, tries to turn him from the way of God. However, Jesus knows well the truth of the Scriptures and uses it to rebuke the devil and continue in obedience to his Father.

 

 

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Readings for Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Ash Wednesday Year A

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

First Reading and Psalm

  • Joel 2:1-2; 12-17
  • Psalm 51:1-17

Alternate First Reading and Psalm

  • Isaiah 58:1-12
  • Psalm 51:1-17

Second Reading

  • 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

Gospel

  • Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

Through the prophet Joel YAHWEH warns of an impending “Day of the Lord” and pleads with his people to return to him in sincerity of heart. He calls for a fast that goes beyond mere outward observance to one that relies instead on his steadfast love and mercy. The Psalmist, face to face with the ugly reality of his own sinfulness, realizes that what he truly needs is a new spirit and a new heart. His present heart, broken and repentant, must therefore be offered up as a sacrifice to YAHWEH, in whose love and mercy it will be found acceptable. St. Paul pleads with the Corinthians to get right with God through Christ who has taken our sin upon himself and shares with us the righteousness of God. This is the day of salvation for which the apostle has worked and suffered much, although, as he relates in a series of wonderful paradoxes, he has been blessed abundantly at the more important spiritual level. Jesus teaches that going about our religious observances in order to impress others reveals that it is not the things of heaven that are of ultimate importance to us. If our hearts are truly oriented to God, we will be happy that only he knows that we do these things and he will provide the appropriate blessing in due course.

As Introductions

Old Testament

Through the prophet Joel YAHWEH warns of an impending “Day of the Lord” and pleads with his people to return to him in sincerity of heart. He calls for a fast that goes beyond mere outward observance to one that relies instead on his steadfast love and mercy.

Psalm

The Psalmist, face to face with the ugly reality of his own sinfulness, realizes that what he truly needs is a new spirit and a new heart. His present heart, broken and repentant, must therefore be offered up as a sacrifice to YAHWEH, in whose love and mercy it will be found acceptable.

New Testament

St. Paul pleads with the Corinthians to get right with God through Christ who has taken our sin upon himself and shares with us the righteousness of God. This is the day of salvation for which the apostle has worked and suffered much, although, as he relates in a series of wonderful paradoxes, he has been blessed abundantly at the more important spiritual level.

Gospel

Jesus teaches that going about our religious observances in order to impress others reveals that it is not the things of heaven that are of ultimate importance to us. If our hearts are truly oriented to God, we will be happy that only he knows that we do these things and he will provide the appropriate blessing in due course.

Based on the Alternative Readings

Isaiah voices YAHWEH’s displeasure with the people of Israel who seek to draw near to him through fasting but who do not observe his ways. He does not respond to such religious observances, but insists that caring for those in need and ending injustice are what he is looking for. This is a true fast, one that will ultimately lead to the restoration of the nation. The Psalmist, face to face with the ugly reality of his own sinfulness, realizes that what he truly needs is a new spirit and a new heart. His present heart, broken and repentant, must therefore be offered up as a sacrifice to YAHWEH, in whose love and mercy it will be found acceptable. St. Paul pleads with the Corinthians to get right with God through Christ who has taken our sin upon himself and shares with us the righteousness of God. This is the day of salvation for which the apostle has worked and suffered much, although, as he relates in a series of wonderful paradoxes, he has been blessed abundantly at the more important spiritual level. Jesus teaches that going about our religious observances in order to impress others reveals that it is not the things of heaven that are of ultimate importance to us. If our hearts are truly oriented to God, we will be happy that only he knows that we do these things and he will provide the appropriate blessing in due course.

As Introductions

Old Testament

Isaiah voices YAHWEH’s displeasure with the people of Israel who seek to draw near to him through fasting but who do not observe his ways. He does not respond to such religious observances, but insists that caring for those in need and ending injustice are what he is looking for. This is a true fast, one that will ultimately lead to the restoration of the nation.

Psalm

The Psalmist, face to face with the ugly reality of his own sinfulness, realizes that what he truly needs is a new spirit and a new heart. His present heart, broken and repentant, must therefore be offered up as a sacrifice to YAHWEH, in whose love and mercy it will be found acceptable.

New Testament

St. Paul pleads with the Corinthians to get right with God through Christ who has taken our sin upon himself and shares with us the righteousness of God. This is the day of salvation for which the apostle has worked and suffered much, although, as he relates in a series of wonderful paradoxes, he has been blessed abundantly at the more important spiritual level.

Gospel

Jesus teaches that going about our religious observances in order to impress others reveals that it is not the things of heaven that are of ultimate importance to us. If our hearts are truly oriented to God, we will be happy that only he knows that we do these things and he will provide the appropriate blessing in due course.

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Readings for February 26, 2017 Year A Transfiguration Sunday

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

First Reading and Psalm

  • Exodus 24:12-18
  • Psalm 2

Second Reading

  • 2 Peter 1:16-21

Gospel

  • Matthew 17:1-9

Alternative Psalm for Above Readings

  • Psalm 99

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

YAHWEH calls Moses and his aide Joshua up onto Mt. Sinai to receive the Commandments in the form of stone tablets. For six days the people can see the glory-cloud covering the mountain before Moses alone is summoned into the divine presence at its fiery centre. The Psalmist mocks the nations who imagine they can threaten the king of Israel whom YAHWEH himself has set upon his holy hill. The king is YAHWEH’s newly begotten son and as such he will conquer and rule over the nations who are exhorted to serve such an awesome God. St. Peter stresses to his audience that he was one of the eyewitnesses to the power and majesty of Jesus at the Transfiguration and follows no myth. He then exults in this event as a fulfillment of scriptural prophecy and, as such, spoken by God himself. Six days after first teaching his disciples about his impending death, Jesus goes up into a mountain with an inner circle. There, his face blazing like the sun and his clothes becoming a brilliant white, he is transformed. When he is joined by Moses and Elijah, the greatest figures of the Old Testament, Peter wants to erect shelters for all three but a voice from heaven makes it clear that it is Jesus alone who warrants their full attention as the Son of God.

As Introductions

Old Testament

YAHWEH calls Moses and his aide Joshua up onto Mt. Sinai to receive the Commandments in the form of stone tablets. For six days the people can see the glory-cloud covering the mountain before Moses alone is summoned into the divine presence at its fiery centre.

Psalm

The Psalmist mocks the nations who imagine they can threaten the king of Israel whom YAHWEH himself has set upon his holy hill. The king is YAHWEH’s newly begotten son and as such he will conquer and rule over the nations who are exhorted to serve such an awesome God.

New Testament

St. Peter stresses to his audience that he was one of the eyewitnesses to the power and majesty of Jesus at the Transfiguration and follows no myth. He then exults in this event as a fulfillment of scriptural prophecy and, as such, spoken by God himself.

Gospel

Six days after first teaching his disciples about his impending death, Jesus goes up into a mountain with an inner circle. There, his face blazing like the sun and his clothes becoming a brilliant white, he is transformed. When he is joined by Moses and Elijah, the greatest figures of the Old Testament, Peter wants to erect shelters for all three but a voice from heaven makes it clear that it is Jesus alone who warrants their full attention as the Son of God.

Based on the Alternative Readings

YAHWEH calls Moses and his aide Joshua up onto Mt. Sinai to receive the Commandments in the form of stone tablets. For six days the people can see the glory-cloud covering the mountain before Moses alone is summoned into the divine presence at its fiery centre. The Psalmist presents YAHWEH as the holy and exalted king over all the earth but resident in Zion his holy mountain. There he has executed righteousness and justice for all to see. There the Law was given through his priests who met with him in the pillar of cloud. St. Peter stresses to his audience that he was one of the eyewitnesses to the power and majesty of Jesus at the Transfiguration and follows no myth. He then exults in this event as a fulfillment of scriptural prophecy and, as such, spoken by God himself. Six days after first teaching his disciples about his impending death, Jesus goes up into a mountain with an inner circle. There, his face blazing like the sun and his clothes becoming a brilliant white, he is transformed. When he is joined by Moses and Elijah, the greatest figures of the Old Testament, Peter wants to erect shelters for all three but a voice from heaven makes it clear that it is Jesus alone who warrants their full attention as the Son of God.

As Introductions

Old Testament

YAHWEH calls Moses and his aide Joshua up onto Mt. Sinai to receive the Commandments in the form of stone tablets. For six days the people can see the glory-cloud covering the mountain before Moses alone is summoned into the divine presence at its fiery centre.

Psalm

The Psalmist presents YAHWEH as the holy and exalted king over all the earth but resident in Zion his holy mountain. There he has executed righteousness and justice for all to see. There the Law was given through his priests who met with him in the pillar of cloud.

New Testament

St. Peter stresses to his audience that he was one of the eyewitnesses to the power and majesty of Jesus at the Transfiguration and follows no myth. He then exults in this event as a fulfillment of scriptural prophecy and, as such, spoken by God himself.

Gospel

Six days after first teaching his disciples about his impending death, Jesus goes up into a mountain with an inner circle. There, his face blazing like the sun and his clothes becoming a brilliant white, he is transformed. When he is joined by Moses and Elijah, the greatest figures of the Old Testament, Peter wants to erect shelters for all three but a voice from heaven makes it clear that it is Jesus alone who warrants their full attention as the Son of God.

 

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Readings for February 19, 2017 Year A Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

First Reading and Psalm

  • Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
  • Psalm 119:33-40

Second Reading

  • 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

Gospel

  • Matthew 5:38-48

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

In this passage we are told that our need to be holy is because YAHWEH himself is holy. Five times we are reminded that we are to live in these ways simply because “I am the LORD”. This Holiness Code is spelled out in terms of our responsibility to love our neighbor as ourselves. This goes beyond simply treating others with respect to actively promoting their welfare. The Psalmist understands that the Commandments are not just an arbitrary list of rules but a way or path to the kind of life promised by YAHWEH for his people. It is the Psalmist’s deepest prayer to know, understand, and walk in this way. St. Paul continues making his point to the Corinthian church that their faith and their standing with God rests on Christ alone and not on the work of any merely human leader. Built on this foundation, they are a holy temple, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and, because they belong to Christ, precious in God’s eyes. In the Gospel Jesus he calls us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. While this may sound like the Holiness Code, our Lord makes it clear that he is setting the standard even higher for his followers, to the point of impossibility apart from the grace of God.

As Introductions

Old Testament

In this passage we are told that our need to be holy is because YAHWEH himself is holy. Five times we are reminded that we are to live in these ways simply because “I am the LORD”. This Holiness Code is spelled out in terms of our responsibility to love our neighbor as ourselves. This goes beyond simply treating others with respect to actively promoting their welfare.

Psalm

The Psalmist understands that the Commandments are not just an arbitrary list of rules but a way or path to the kind of life promised by YAHWEH for his people. It is the Psalmist’s deepest prayer to know, understand, and walk in this way.

New Testament

St. Paul continues making his point to the Corinthian church that their faith and their standing with God rests on Christ alone and not on the work of any merely human leader. Built on this foundation, they are a holy temple, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and, because they belong to Christ, precious in God’s eyes.

Gospel

In the Gospel Jesus he calls us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. While this may sound like the Holiness Code, our Lord makes it clear that he is setting the standard even higher for his followers, to the point of impossibility apart from the grace of God.

 

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Readings for February 12, 2017 Year A Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

 

First Reading and Psalm

  • Deuteronomy 30:15-20
  • Psalm 119:1-8

Second Reading

  • 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Gospel

  • Matthew 5:21-37

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

With the people of Israel about to enter the Promised Land, Moses addresses the nation for the last time. In dramatic fashion he beseeches them to follow the ways of YAHWEH in order to be successful in the Land. It is up to them to choose: will it be life or death? It’s that simple. The Psalmist affirms the delight in store for those who truly follow YAHWEH’s commandments. He yearns for the ability to do so himself and realizes that his relationship with God is dependent upon his success. St. Paul laments that the divisions among the Corinthian church reveal their immaturity in Christ. They are more “of the flesh” than “of the spirit” when they align themselves with various leaders instead of realizing that all are merely servants of Christ. Each of us is to use our ability to build up the whole church. In the Gospel Jesus calls his church to a way of life that refuses to tolerate even the attitudes that lead to sinful action, not just sinful action itself. Anger and lustful thoughts are just as much the true enemies of our soul as the actual acts of murder and adultery to which they lead. To follow Jesus truly is a challenge to our usual way of thinking.

As Introductions

Old Testament

With the people of Israel about to enter the Promised Land, Moses addresses the nation for the last time. In dramatic fashion he beseechs them to follow the ways of YAHWEH in order to be successful in the Land. It is up to them to choose: will it be life or death? It’s that simple.

Psalm

The Psalmist affirms the delight in store for those who truly follow YAHWEH’s commandments. He yearns for the ability to do so himself and realizes that his relationship with God is dependent upon his success.

New Testament

St. Paul laments that the divisions among the Corinthian church reveal their immaturity in Christ. They are more “of the flesh” than “of the spirit” when they align themselves with various leaders instead of realizing that all are merely servants of Christ. Each of us is to use our ability to build up the whole church.

Gospel

In the Gospel Jesus calls his church to a way of life that refuses to tolerate even the attitudes that lead to sinful action, not just sinful action itself. Anger and lustful thoughts are just as much the true enemies of our soul as the actual acts of murder and adultery to which they lead. To follow Jesus truly is a challenge to our usual way of thinking.