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Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost, November 3, 2019, Proper 26, Year C

Please see How to Use Lection Connection 

Full lections can be read here.

 

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4)

Crying out for the Lord to end his silence concerning Judah’s destruction, the prophet Habakkuk decides simply to listen for the divine word. He is assured of a coming “end” for which he is to wait and that it is through such faithfulness that the righteous will live.

Psalm (119:137-144)

The Psalmist, although he is in the midst of serious trouble, exults in the life-giving quality of God’s word at every level of existence and pleads for fuller understanding.

Second Reading (2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12)

Paul praises the Thessalonians who are steadfast in the midst of suffering and persecution. Indeed, they are growing in faith and love through the power of God, bringing glory to the Lord Jesus.

Gospel (Luke 19:1-10)

St. Luke tells the story of Zacchaeus, a tax-collector and a cheat who nevertheless has a passion to see Jesus. Forced to climb a tree to get above the crowd, Jesus reaches out to him and his life is transformed as he experiences the new life of God’s salvation.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Suffering, even though it is very real and often debilitating, does offer opportunities for genuine faithfulness and witness
  • Suffering can remind us that we are always in the hands of the Lord
  • God does promise salvation and deliverance, but it is not on our timetable. Patience is a mark of the faithful
  • The road to righteousness requires great resolve
  • Is a sense of “lostness” the precondition to being “found”?

 

Based on the Alternative Readings

First Reading (Isaiah 1:10-18)

The prophet Isaiah compares the sin of Judah to that of Sodom and Gomorrah and calls the nation to right living as well as right religion. He offers the promise that, if the nation repents, its sins will be forgiven.

Psalm (32:1-7)

The Psalmist rejoices in sins forgiven and even in the difficult times that inspired true repentance. The Lord is a hiding place in times of trouble for those who will look to him.

Second Reading (2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12)

Paul praises the Thessalonians who are steadfast in the midst of suffering and persecution. Indeed, they are growing in faith and love through the power of God, bringing glory to the Lord Jesus.

Gospel (Luke 19:1-10)

St. Luke tells the story of Zacchaeus, a tax-collector and a cheat who nevertheless has a passion to see Jesus. Forced to climb a tree to get above the crowd, he catches Jesus’ attention and his life is turned around by the one who actually seeks the lost.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • The Lord is looking for us to acknowledge our sin and repent
  • True repentance involves a change in behaviour
  • Suffering, even though it is very real and often debilitating, does offer opportunities for genuine faithfulness and witness
  • The road to righteousness requires great resolve
  • Is a sense of “lostness” the precondition to being “found”?
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Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, November 4, 2018, Proper 26, Year B

Lection Connection for All Saints’ Day can be found here.

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Ruth 1:1-18)

Before there were kings in Israel, a widow named Naomi, finding herself bereft of husband and sons in a foreign country, decides to return home to Bethlehem in Judah. Her daughter-in-law Ruth insists on going and staying with her, even adopting her God.

  Psalm (146)

The Psalmist will praise the Lord all his days because, unlike human beings, he is not changeable and will always keep his promises. He provides justice for the oppressed, reversing their plight, while watching over strangers, widows and orphans.

Second Reading (Hebrews 9:11-14)

The writer makes it clear that the blood of Jesus our high priest was offered as a once for all sacrifice in the heavenly tabernacle. Himself without sin, he was able to cleanse our consciences from futile works, much more than any earthly sacrifices could ever do.

Gospel (Mark 12:28-34)

A scribe agrees with Jesus who holds the first commandment to be to love God with the totality of one’s being and the second to be to love one’s neighbour as oneself. Jesus tells him that he is close to the kingdom of God. His wisdom finally quieted his accusers.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Even the foreigner is our neighbor
  • The Lord cares especially for those in need (and so should we)
  • The Lord supplies what we need to come to him
  • Making God our first priority sets other things in proper order

Based on the Alternative Readings

First Reading (Deuteronomy 6:1-9)

As part of his farewell address, Moses tells the people of Israel that the laws he has given them are for their own welfare, enabling them to prosper greatly in the Land as the Lord had promised. They must love and obey him with the totality of their beings.

Psalm (119:1-8)

The Psalmist longs to keep the Lord’s commandments by learning them and fixing his attention upon them with the totality of his being. He knows that they that do so shall be kept happy and blameless, with a right to expect God’s assistance.

Second Reading (Hebrews 9:11-14)

The writer makes it clear that the blood of Jesus our high priest was offered as a once for all sacrifice in the heavenly tabernacle. Himself without sin, he was able to cleanse our consciences from futile works, much more than any earthly sacrifices could ever do.

Gospel (Mark 12:28-34)

A scribe agrees with Jesus who holds the first commandment to be to love God with the totality of one’s being and the second to be to love one’s neighbour as oneself. Jesus tells him that he is close to the kingdom of God. His wisdom finally quieted his accusers.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • The Lord supplies what we need to come to him
  • Making God our first priority sets other things in their proper order
  • The Lord demands the totality of our beings
  • Following the laws of God leads to human flourishing

 

 

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Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost, November 5, 2017, Proper 26, Year A

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

Full lections can be read here.

Lection Connection for All Saints Day can be found here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Joshua 3:7-17)

On Yahweh’s word Joshua orders the ark of the covenant into the Jordan and the people pass over on dry ground into the Promised Land. This demonstrates that Yahweh is with Joshua in the same way he was with Moses, authenticating him as the new leader of Israel.

Psalm (107:1-7, 33-37)

The Psalmist calls for thanks to be given to Yahweh for his steadfast love as shown in his redeeming those who cry out to him in the midst of serious trouble. He gathers them to safety and satisfies their thirst and hunger by his power to change even the natural environment to their advantage.

Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 2:9-13)

St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his conduct among them as a herald of the Gospel. Instead of being a burden, he supported himself while treating them with honesty, respect and concern. He gives thanks that they responded by accepting God’s word into their lives.

Gospel (Matthew 23:1-12)

Jesus acknowledges the value of the teaching of the rabbis but warns his listeners not to follow their example. Their concern is to be seen as pious and to enjoy their exalted place in society. He urges his followers instead to consider themselves students, children, and servants, predicting the humiliation of the proud and the exaltation of the humble.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • God has power over nature, human and otherwise
  • Humility has its rewards
  • God does not overlook the needy
  • True spiritual leadership requires humility and integrity

Based on the Alternative Set of Readings

First Reading (Micah 3:5-12)

Yahweh is going to withhold his revelations from those prophets who predict good things for those who feed them and evil things for those who do not. By the Spirit Micah determines to speak the truth of coming judgment to the leaders of Israel who are corrupt at every level.

Psalm (Psalm 43)

The Psalmist calls upon God for vindication against the deceitful and unjust who have oppressed him. He is confident that, if led by God’s light and truth, he will once again offer praise in the sanctuary.

Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 2:9-13)

St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his conduct among them as a herald of the Gospel. Instead of being a burden, he supported himself while treating them with honesty, respect and concern. He gives thanks that they responded by accepting God’s word into their lives.

Gospel (Matthew 23:1-12)

Jesus acknowledges the value of the teaching of the rabbis but warns his listeners not to follow their example. Their concern is to be seen as pious and to enjoy their exalted place in society. He urges his followers instead to consider themselves students, children, and servants, predicting the humiliation of the proud and the exaltation of the humble.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • True spiritual leadership requires humility and integrity
  • The easy but spiritually dangerous path of fulfilling societal expectations
  • God will judge his servants who abuse their calling

 

 

 

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Readings for October 30, 2016 Year C All Saints Day (Transferred)/Proper 26 (31)

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

All Saints Day (Transferred)

[See below for Year C Proper 26 (31)]

First Reading and Psalm

  • Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
  • Psalm 149

Second Reading

  • Ephesians 1:11-23

Gospel

  • Luke 6:20-31

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

Daniel is given a vision of four great kings or kingdoms that shall arise out of the earth. Each is visualized as a horrific “beast”, striking terror in the heart of the prophet. In spite of this threatening scenario, Daniel is assured that the kingdom will ultimately belong forever to the holy ones of God. The Psalm calls for praise to YAHWEH because he gives glorious victory to lowly Israel, setting it over the kings and nobles of the nations. Paul writes of the glorious inheritance we now have in Christ, rooted in the power exhibited in his resurrection and demonstrated in his being designated head over all things for us. While he is our head, we are his body and share in his fullness. In Luke’s version of the Beatitudes it is clear that things in the kingdom of God will be upside down from our normal experience. The lowly will be made great and vice versa. In the meantime we are called to embody a kind of upside down kingdom way of life, loving our enemies and treating them as we ourselves desire to be treated.

As Introductions

Old Testament

Daniel is given a vision of four great kings or kingdoms that shall arise out of the earth. Each is visualized as a horrific “beast”, striking terror in the heart of the prophet. In spite of this threatening scenario, Daniel is assured that the kingdom will ultimately belong forever to the holy ones of God.

Psalm

The Psalm calls for praise to YAHWEH because he gives glorious victory to lowly Israel, setting it over the kings and nobles of the nations.

New Testament

Paul writes of the glorious inheritance we now have in Christ, rooted in the power exhibited in his resurrection and demonstrated in his being designated head over all things for us. While he is our head, we are his body and share in his fullness.

Gospel

In Luke’s version of the Beatitudes it is clear that things in the kingdom of God will be upside down from our normal experience. The lowly will be made great and vice versa. In the meantime we are called to embody a kind of upside down kingdom way of life, loving our enemies and treating them as we ourselves desire to be treated.

Year C Proper 26 (31)

First Reading and Psalm

  • Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
  • Psalm 119:137-144

Alternative First Reading and Psalm

  • Isaiah 1:10-18
  • Psalm 32:1-7

Second Reading

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12

Gospel

  • Luke 19:1-10

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

Crying out for YAHWEH to end his silence in the midst of Judah’s destruction, the prophet Habakkuk decides simply to listen for the divine word. He is assured both of a coming “end” for which he is to wait and also that it is through such faithfulness that the righteous will live. The Psalmist, although he is in the midst of serious trouble, exults in the life-giving quality of God’s word at every level of existence and pleads for fuller understanding. Paul praises the Thessalonians who are steadfast in the midst of suffering and persecution. Indeed, they are growing in faith and love through the power of God, bringing glory to the Lord Jesus. St. Luke tells the story of Zacchaeus who, in the midst of his sin, had a passion to see Jesus in spite of the obscuring throng. Up in the tree above the crowd he hears Jesus’ word and his life is transformed as he experiences the new life of God’s salvation.

As Introductions

Old Testament

Crying out for YAHWEH to end his silence in the midst of Judah’s destruction, the prophet Habakkuk decides simply to listen for the divine word. He is assured both of a coming “end” for which he is to wait and also that it is through such faithfulness that the righteous will live.

Psalm

The Psalmist, although he is in the midst of serious trouble, exults in the life-giving quality of God’s word at every level of existence and pleads for fuller understanding.

New Testament

Paul praises the Thessalonians who are steadfast in the midst of suffering and persecution. Indeed, they are growing in faith and love through the power of God, bringing glory to the Lord Jesus.

Gospel

St. Luke tells the story of Zacchaeus who, in the midst of his sin, had a passion to see Jesus in spite of the obscuring throng. Up in the tree above the crowd he hears Jesus’ word and his life is transformed as he experiences the new life of God’s salvation.

Based on the Alternative Readings

The prophet Isaiah compares the sin of Judah to that of Sodom and Gomorrah and calls the nation to right living as well as right religion. He offers the promise that, if the nation repents, its sins will be forgiven. The Psalmist rejoices in sins forgiven and even in the difficult times that inspired true repentance. YAHWEH is a hiding place in times of trouble for those who will look to him. Paul praises the Thessalonians who are steadfast in the midst of suffering and persecution. Indeed, they are growing in faith and love through the power of God, bringing glory to the Lord Jesus. St. Luke tells the story of Zacchaeus who, in the midst of his sin, had a passion to see Jesus in spite of the obscuring throng. Up in the tree above the crowd he hears Jesus’ word and his life is transformed as he experiences the new life of God’s salvation.

As Introductions

Old Testament

The prophet Isaiah compares the sin of Judah to that of Sodom and Gomorrah and calls the nation to right living as well as right religion. He offers the promise that, if the nation repents, its sins will be forgiven.

Psalm

The Psalmist rejoices in sins forgiven and even in the difficult times that inspired true repentance. YAHWEH is a hiding place in times of trouble for those who will look to him.

New Testament

Paul praises the Thessalonians who are steadfast in the midst of suffering and persecution. Indeed, they are growing in faith and love through the power of God, bringing glory to the Lord Jesus.

Gospel

St. Luke tells the story of Zacchaeus who, in the midst of his sin, had a passion to see Jesus in spite of the obscuring throng. Up in the tree above the crowd he hears Jesus’ word and his life is transformed as he experiences the new life of God’s salvation.