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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-First Sunday after Pentecost, October 14, 2018, Proper 23, Year B

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Job 23:1-9, 16-17)

Job complains that God’s hand is heavy upon him and he dares to enter the dwelling of the Almighty to get his answer. Even though God is elusive even there, Job’s innocence makes him bold even though he feels he would rather hide in his terror.

Psalm (22:1-15)

Encircled by enemies like raging beasts, the Psalmist cries out at in God’s seeming absence. His ancestors were saved, but he is but a despised worm. Although tempted to give up hope, he remembers that he has always successfully depended on the Lord.

Second Reading (Hebrews 4:12-16)

God’s Word is living and very sharp, penetrating into our hearts but Jesus is our great and sympathetic high priest from heaven. Like us, he has been fully tested but without sin. We can therefore boldly approach God through him for mercy and grace.

Gospel (Mark 10:17-31)

A rich man declines to give away all he possesses to follow Jesus and gain eternal life. Jesus points out how hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom but with God anything is possible. Those who have given up much to follow Jesus shall be rewarded.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • We can boldly approach our God
  • The divide between God and man is bridged by the God/man Jesus.
  • Possessions in this life may or may not be a sign of God’s blessing
  • Love of possessions runs counter to our spiritual health

Based on the Alternative Readings

First Reading (Amos 5:6-7, 10-15)

The prophet Amos threatens rich people who trample the poor and refuse to listen to reproof. They shall suffer devastation and never enjoy the fancy things that they own. Be sure that the Lord will only be with those who seek good and not evil.

Psalm (90:12-17)

The Psalmist pleads with the Lord to help his people be wise in the light of time’s fleeting passage. Long afflicted, they desperately need the Lord to turn back to them. They yearn for a time of blessing that makes their troubles fade in comparison.

Second Reading (Hebrews 4:12-16)

God’s Word is living and very sharp, penetrating into our hearts but Jesus is our great and sympathetic high priest from heaven. Like us, he has been fully tested but without sin. We can therefore boldly approach God through him for mercy and grace.

Gospel (Mark 10:17-31)

A rich man declines to give away all he possesses to follow Jesus and gain eternal life. Jesus points out how hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom but with God anything is possible. Those who have given up much to follow Jesus shall be rewarded.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • We can boldly approach our God
  • Possessions in this life may or may not be a sign of God’s blessing
  • Love of possessions runs counter to our spiritual health
  • True blessing is being with the Lord and not in riches

 

 

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Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost, October 29, 2017, Proper 25, 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 (Deuteronomy 34:1-12)

Moses ascends Mt. Pisgah and Yahweh shows him the entire sweep of the Promised Land to which he has been leading the people through the wilderness. He will never enter it. Instead he dies there on the mountain, an old but still vigorous man. He leaves an imposing legacy for his chosen successor Joshua to emulate as he takes Israel into the Land.

Psalm (90:1-6, 13-17)

The Psalmist celebrates Yahweh as Israel’s refuge, the creator in charge of all life and whose plans are not swept away with the passage of time. He then pleads for Yahweh’s help in the present distress of the nation and enable their efforts to bear fruit. His appeal is based on Yahweh’s steadfast love for his people.

Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 2:1-8)

St. Paul, in spite of opposition, is confident of being entrusted with the Gospel by God himself and reminds the Thessalonians how he had brought the message to them with gentle integrity. Because they were precious to him, he gave his very self along with the Gospel and it has borne fruit in their lives.

Gospel (Matthew 22:34-46)

The Sadducees test Jesus by asking him to name the greatest of God’s laws. He responds by reciting those he says underlie them all: first to love God, and second to love one’s neighbor. Then he leads them to ponder how in the Scriptures David can possibly call his own son “Lord”. This mystery serves to silence them and no one ever dares to test him again.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • The cost and benefits of godly leadership
  • The role of opposition and testing in our Christian lives
  • The importance and satisfaction of bearing fruit in our lives
  • The various faces of loving one’s neighbor

Based on the Alternative Set of Readings

First Reading (Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18)

Yahweh has Moses set before the Israelites their basic obligation as the “people of God” to be holy, just as he is holy. He goes on to spell out the fuller implications of what this means for their relationships with their neighbors, loving them as much as themselves.

Psalm (1)

This Psalm, standing at the head of the Psalms, spells out the two paths available for human beings: the way of Yahweh or the way of sinners. Conforming to the Law results in a blessed and stable life in companionship with God. Disobedience to the Law results in judgment and instability in isolation from God.

Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 2:1-8)

St. Paul, in spite of opposition, is confident of being entrusted with the Gospel by God himself and reminds the Thessalonians how he had brought the message to them with gentle integrity. Because they were precious to him, he gave his very self along with the Gospel and it has borne fruit in their lives.

Gospel (Matthew 22:34-46)

The Sadducees test Jesus by asking him to name the greatest of God’s laws. He responds by reciting those he says underlie them all: first to love God, and second to love one’s neighbor. Then he leads them to ponder how in the Scriptures David can possibly call his own son “Lord”. This mystery serves to silence them and no one ever dares to test him again.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Two opposed ways to live
  • The cost and benefits of godly leadership
  • The various faces of loving one’s neighbor