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Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A, March 22, 2020

Please see How to Use Lection Connection.

Full lections can be read here.

 

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

After Saul had failed as the first king of Israel, the Lord sends Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king. To everyone’s surprise, the Lord, who sees the heart, selects David the shepherd boy. Samuel anoints him and he is filled with the Spirit.

Psalm (23)

David likens his relationship with the Lord to a sheep who trusts that the shepherd knows what he is doing in spite of appearances. He provides water, food and shelter, even in circumstances that a sheep would see as extremely threatening.

Second Reading (Ephesians 5:8-14)

Paul asserts that, in the Lord, Christians have become light, bearing fruit which is good, right and true. They now oppose and shun the darkness and its useless works from which they have come. Christ is the light who makes all this happen.

Gospel (John 9:1-41)

In healing a man born blind Jesus shows that he is the light of the world. The man’s physical and spiritual darkness is dispersed while the Pharisees, who should recognize Messiah, heighten their opposition. Jesus says he has come to expose all to the light.

 

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Jesus is the light of the world, not just part of it
  • We need to see with the eyes of faith
  • Our judgment needs to go beyond superficial appearances
  • God is interested in the attitudes of our hearts more than he is in how things (or we} look to others
  • When Jesus comes into our lives, we see things differently
  • What does it mean to be “light”?

SCRIPTURE SENTENCE (BAS, Canada)

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; those who follow me will have the light of life. John 8.12

COLLECT OF THE DAY (BAS, Canada)

Almighty God,
through the waters of baptism
your Son has made us children of light.
May we ever walk in his light
and show forth your glory in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN

 

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Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 31, 2019, Year C

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Joshua 5:9-12)

After the Israelites cross over into the Promised Land, the Lord tells Joshua that they had finally gotten over the disgrace of Egypt. In Canaan at last, they celebrated the Passover and began to live off the produce of the land instead of the manna that God had provided in the wilderness.

Psalm (32)

Beginning by noting the happiness of forgiven sin, the Psalmist recalls his burden of sin and how it was forgiven when he confessed it to the Lord. While he is our saviour in times of trouble, we are responsible to listen to and obey divine instruction, confident of his steadfast love as we do.

Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)

Paul writes that those who are reconciled to God through Christ are actually new creatures entering into a new reality. The sinless Christ was made sin so that we sinners could be made righteous. Paul considers himself, as a preacher of this message, to be Christ’s ambassador.

Gospel (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32)

Jesus explains his socializing with sinners by telling the parable of a man with two sons. The older is obedient while the younger runs away from home and squanders his inheritance. When he finally returns home, his father is delighted to have him back, but his brother can only sulk.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • God’s salvation involves a new kind of existence for the redeemed
  • Confession/repentance is good for the soul
  • God has provided a way for our sin to be dealt with in order for us to be reconciled to him
  • God has taken the initiative in saving sinners and delights in their return to him
  • Sin is a burden not worth carrying

 

 

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Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 11, 2018, Year B

Please see How to Use Lection Connection.  If used as an introduction during worship, a suggested format can be found here.

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Numbers 21:4-9)

The Israelites, impatient in the wilderness, again complain to Moses about lacking food and water. YAHWEH sends deadly snakes among them and many die before they repent. Moses erects a bronze snake and when people look to it they are healed.

Psalm (107:1-3, 17-22)

The Psalmist urges praise to YAHWEH for his enduring love and amazing works. The redeemed were gathered from afar and, although some were afflicted to the point of death due to their sin, they were restored by YAHWEH’s word when they called to him.

Second Reading (Ephesians 2:1-10)

St. Paul tells the Ephesians that, once dead because of their sins, they have been resurrected by God’s mercy and love alone. This rich new life with Christ engenders good works in this life and will continue to unfold throughout eternity.

Gospel (John 3:14-21)

Jesus says that when he is lifted up, those who look to him in faith will move from death to eternal life. This is God’s intention for everyone, but evildoers hate the light. Those who do come to the light reveal that the ability to do what is true is actually God’s work.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Following Jesus is a matter of life and death
  • New life in Christ leads to good works, not the other way around
  • The critical importance of looking to God/Christ for salvation
  • God can transform death into life
  • God can transform symbols of death into agents of life
  • There are only two ways of life

 

 

 

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Readings for March 26, 2017 Fourth Sunday in Lent Year A

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

First Reading and Psalm

  • 1 Samuel 16:1-13
  • Psalm 23

Second Reading

  • Ephesians 5:8-14

Gospel

  • John 9:1-41

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

After Saul had failed as the first king of Israel, YAHWEH sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem and the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as the next king. Both Samuel and Jesse were blind to the proper choice because they, unlike YAHWEH, could not see into the heart. Even though he seemed too young for the job, David the shepherd boy was finally selected and when Samuel anointed him he was filled with the Spirit. David depicts his relationship with YAHWEH in terms of a sheep who trusts that the shepherd knows what he is doing in spite of appearances. He provides water, food and shelter, even in circumstances that the sheep, with its limited vision, would see as extremely threatening. According to St. Paul, the Christian has passed from darkness to light, producing that which is good, right and true. Living in this way makes even the works of darkness visible in the light of Christ. In healing a man born blind Jesus graphically demonstrates that he is indeed the light of the world. The impenetrable darkness of the blind man is dispersed and when he recognizes Jesus as the Son of Man and believes in him, he comes even to see as God sees. The sighted Pharisees, on the other hand, demonstrate through their opposition to Jesus that they are the ones who are really blind and dwell in darkness.

As Introductions and/or for Bulletin Use

Old Testament

After Saul had failed as the first king of Israel, YAHWEH sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem and the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as the next king. Both Samuel and Jesse were blind to the proper choice because they, unlike YAHWEH, could not see into the heart. Even though he seemed too young for the job, David the shepherd boy was finally selected and when Samuel anointed him he was filled with the Spirit.

Psalm

David depicts his relationship with YAHWEH in terms of a sheep who trusts that the shepherd knows what he is doing in spite of appearances. He provides water, food and shelter, even in circumstances that the sheep, with its limited vision, would see as extremely threatening.

New Testament

According to St. Paul, the Christian has passed from darkness to light, producing that which is good, right and true. Living in this way makes even the works of darkness visible in the light of Christ.

Gospel

In healing a man born blind Jesus graphically demonstrates that he is indeed the light of the world. The impenetrable darkness of the blind man is dispersed and when he recognizes Jesus as the Son of Man and believes in him, he comes even to see as God sees. The sighted Pharisees, on the other hand, demonstrate through their opposition to Jesus that they are the ones who are really blind and dwell in darkness.