In the Lectionary
Reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary readings by pastors, preachers, and biblical scholars
July 28, Ordinary 17B (2 Samuel 11:1–15)
It’s almost as if power and prestige somehow facilitate abusive patterns and protect perpetrators!
July 21, Ordinary 16B (Mark 6:30–34, 53–56)
An exhausted Jesus responds to the crowd with compassion. I think that’s a miracle.
July 14, Ordinary 15B (Mark 6:14–29)
Who knows what took place in Herod’s guilty heart after John’s death?
July 7, Ordinary 14B (Mark 6:1–13)
The disciples want to know who Jesus is. The people from his hometown do not.
June 30, Ordinary 13B (2 Samuel 1:1, 17–27)
Maybe the Song of the Bow is an Iron Age propaganda drop. Or maybe it’s just a song.
June 23, Ordinary 12B (1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4–11, 19–23), 32–49)
When David steps out to challenge Goliath, he shifts from the acted upon to the actor.
June 16, Ordinary 11B (2 Corinthians 5:6–10, (11–13), 14–17)
Paul has been wounded by the church, but he is driven to keep engaging.
June 9, Ordinary 10B (1 Samuel 8:4–11, (12–15), 16–20, (11:14–15))
Samuel is a good leader, until he isn’t.
June 2, Ordinary 9B (1 Samuel 3:1–10, 11–20)
Opening up space and time in our lives is one way to invite God to speak.
May 26, Trinity B (John 3:1–17)
Sometimes being truly free in the Spirit means being deeply bound to the outworking of God’s mission in the world.
May 19, Pentecost (Acts 2:1–21)
Acts points us to a better communion, one that preserves and celebrates diversity.
May 12, Easter 7B (Psalm 1; John 17:6–19)
In meditating on the words of scripture, I discover a Word who meditates on me.
May 9, Ascension (Luke 24:44–53)
In his final moments on earth, Jesus delivers a last lecture—with footnotes.
May 5, Easter 6
(1 John 5:1–6; John 15:9–17)
(1 John 5:1–6; John 15:9–17)
The Christian faith often gives friendship short shrift.
April 28, Easter 5B (John 15:1–8; 1 John 4:7–21)
In biblical Greek, the word we translate as “abide” is active rather than passive.
April 21, Easter 4B (Psalm 23; John 10:11–18)
A dead shepherd isn’t helpful to anyone, least of all to the sheep left behind.