First Sunday in Lent, Year A, March 1, 2020

Please see How to Use Lection Connection.

Full lections can be read here.

 

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7)

The first humans are given a beautiful garden to look after and enjoy, but they are told not to eat the fruit of one particular tree. The woman and then her husband eat it after the serpent casts doubt on God’s word. Both then realize that they are naked.

Psalm (32)

The Psalmist, deeply aware of his own sinfulness, realizes that what he truly needs is a new spirit, a new heart. A merciful and loving Lord grants such to those who sincerely and humbly offer him a broken and repentant spirit.

Second Reading (Romans 5:12-19)

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 (Matthew 4:1-11)

After Jesus had been fasting for forty days in the desert, the devil, appealing to his humanity and twisting the Word of God, tempts him to sin. However, Jesus, knowing the Scriptures, uses them to rebuke the devil and continue in the will of his Father.

 

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Ultimately, obedience to God’s commands results in life, while disobedience results in death
  • We can only obey God when he gives us the means to do so
  • All human beings, including the incarnate Son, have faced temptation
  • All human beings, except the incarnate Son, have given in to temptation and sinned
  • We must learn and trust God’s Word

 

COLLECT OF THE DAY (BAS, Canada)

Almighty God, whose Son fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are but did not sin. give us grace to discipline ourselves in submission to your Spirit, that as you know our weakness, so we may know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

 

Ash Wednesday, Year C, February 26, 2020

Please see How to Use Lection Connection.

Full lections can be read here.

 

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Joel 2:1-2, 12-17)

Through the prophet Joel the Lord 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 and relies instead on God’s own steadfast love and mercy.

Psalm (51:1-17)

The Psalmist, deeply aware of his own sinfulness, realizes that what he truly needs is a new spirit, a new heart. A merciful and loving Lord grants such to those who sincerely and humbly offer him a broken and repentant spirit.

Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10)

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, suffered, and, paradoxically, been blessed.

Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21)

Jesus teaches that practicing our religion in order to impress others reveals only that the things of heaven are not of ultimate importance to us. Hearts truly oriented to God will be content to do these things in secret, knowing that his blessings await in due course.

 

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • The poverty of superficial religious observance
  • God looks upon the heart
  • The necessity of a changed heart in order to please God
  • Good deeds issue from good souls and not the other way round
  • The true fast is of the heart
  • A little humility goes a long way

 

Based on the Alternative First Reading

First Reading (Isaiah 58:1-12)

Isaiah voices the Lord’s displeasure with a people who seek to draw near to him through fasting while not observing his ways. A true fast, one that will ultimately lead to Israel’s restoration, is caring for those in need and bringing injustice to an end.

Psalm (51:1-17)

The Psalmist, deeply aware of his own sinfulness, realizes that what he truly needs is a new spirit, a new heart. A merciful and loving Lord grants such to those who sincerely and humbly offer him a broken and repentant spirit.

Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10)

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, suffered, and, paradoxically, been blessed.

Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21)

Jesus teaches that practicing our religion in order to impress others reveals only that the things of heaven are not of ultimate importance to us. Hearts truly oriented to God will be content to do these things in secret, knowing that his blessings await in due course.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • The poverty of superficial religious observance
  • God looks upon the heart
  • The necessity of a changed heart in order to please God
  • Good deeds issue from good souls and not the other way round
  • The true fast is of the heart
  • A little humility goes a long way

 

 

 

Transfiguration Sunday, Year A, February 23, 2020

Please see How to Use Lection Connection.

Full lections can be read here.

 

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Exodus 24:12-18)

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

Psalm (2)

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

Alternative Psalm (99)

The Lord is the holy and exalted king over all the earth. Resident in Mount Zion, he has executed righteousness and justice for everyone to see. His laws were given through his servants who met with him in the pillar of cloud. All are to worship him on his mountain.

Second Reading (2 Peter 1:16-21)

Peter stresses that the power and glory of Jesus is no myth because he himself was one of the eyewitnesses to the Transfiguration. He exults in this event as a fulfillment of scriptural prophecy, which always is to be regarded as God’s own word.

 Gospel (Matthew 17:1-9)

After teaching his disciples about his impending death, Jesus goes up onto a mountain where his appearance is transformed in brilliant light. When he is joined by Moses and Elijah, a heavenly voice clarifies that Jesus, as God’s son, deserves our full attention.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Jesus reveals the power and glory of God in his own being
  • Divine revelation is given by God to his chosen recipients
  • Jesus shares the characteristics of divinity
  • Jesus, as the Son of God, completes and supersedes all who came before
  • Mountain-top experiences with the Lord are important

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A, February 16, 2020

Please see How to Use Lection Connection.

Full lections can be read here.

 

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

With 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 the Lord in order to be successful in the Land. They must choose life with blessings or death with judgment.

Psalm (119:1-8)

The Psalmist affirms that blessings are in store for those who truly follow the Lord’s commandments. Strongly desiring to do so himself, he commits to understanding and keeping the divine laws. Praising God for them, he is confident of not being forsaken.

Second Reading (1 Corinthians 3:1-9)

St. Paul laments that the divisions among the Corinthians reveal their immaturity in Christ. They are more “of the flesh” than “of the spirit” in following various leaders instead seeing them as humble servants of Christ, working to build up the whole church.

Gospel (Matthew 5:21-37)

Jesus calls his disciples to a way of life that understands that even the attitudes that lead to sinful action, not just sinful action itself, are liable to judgement. Sin is to be avoided at all costs. Jesus demands purity of thought and honourable behaviour.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Following the Lord is a serious business
  • The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart
  • Following God’s ways ultimately leads to blessing and life while disobedience ultimately leads to judgment and death
  • The Christian life is a constant struggle against our “natural” inclinations and cannot be successful without dedication and the inner work of the Holy Spirit
  • The Christian life is a matter of constantly choosing to follow the Lord

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A, February 9, 2020

Please see How to Use Lection Connection.

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Isaiah 58:1-12)

The Lord asserts that true religion is more than just the observance of religious ceremonies and fasts but must include obedience to him, especially in caring for those in need. Doing so will result in his people showing forth his glory.

Psalm (112:1-10)

The Psalmist affirms that those who fear the Lord are firmly established in the midst of the changes and chances of this life. They delight in his laws and obey them, especially in supporting the poor. They are a light in the darkness for all those around them.

Second Reading (I Corinthians 2:1-16)

St. Paul reminds the Corinthians that their faith was not inspired by great words of worldly wisdom but upon the demonstration and power of the Spirit. He gives them his gifts and the mind of Christ in order to live for God in a world subject to a contrary spirit.

Gospel (Matthew 5:13-20)

Jesus tells his followers they are both the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As they more fully keep the laws of God before a watching humanity, more glory is given to the Father and the kingdom of heaven comes closer to realization.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • God’s people are called and equipped to be light in the world
  • Our witness in the world is dependent upon our faithfulness to God’s commandments
  • The world naturally operates in a way that is contrary to God’s ways
  • Our worship is not acceptable if we persist in disobedience
  • The “foolishness” of God is greater than the “wisdom” of humankind
  • The castoffs of society are the special objects of the Lord’s concern and this must be reflected in our discipleship