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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.

 

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All Saints Day, November 1, 2019, Year C

Lection Connection for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost, Sunday October 3, 2019 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 (Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18)

Daniel envisions four great kings or kingdoms arising out of the earth. Each is described 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 finally belong to the holy ones of God forever.

Psalm (149)

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

Second Reading (Ephesians 1:11-23)

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. While he is our head, we are his body and therefore share in his fullness.

Gospel (Luke 6:20-31)

The Beatitudes make it clear that the kingdom of God will be upside down from our normal experience. The lowly will be made great and vice versa. We are called to embody this upside- down way of life, loving our enemies and treating them as we ourselves desire to be treated.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • God will grant the kingdom to his humble and holy people
  • Exaltation is not ours to grasp. It will be the gift of God
  • The normal human ways to exalt ourselves over others will ultimately result in our downfall
  • No matter how exalted, no human power will prevail over the kingdom of God
  • As those who belong to Christ, all saints already participate in his exaltation