Second Sunday in Lent                     Year A                                                           5th March 2023 Lectionary readings: Genesis 12 v1-4a;   Psalm 121;   Romans 4 v1-5, 13-17;   John 3 v1-17. Abraham’s example. Long ago and far away, (about 4000 years ago, in Southern Iraq), God spoke to man named Abram (later Abraham). Abram put his faith in God’s plans for…

First Sunday in Lent                                     Year A                                     26th February 2023 Lectionary Readings: Genesis 2 v15-17, 3 v1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5 v12-19; Matthew 4 v1-11. We are no longer alone. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert so that the devil could test him. (Matthew 4v1). And when the test was completed, The devil…

Sunday before Lent.                         Year A                                                 19th February 2023 Lectionary Readings: Exodus 24 v12-18;   Psalm 2;   2 Peter 1 v16-21;   Matthew 17 v1-9. Understanding, guided by the Spirit of God. Peter said,“But you need to realise that no one alone can understand the prophecies in the Scriptures. The prophets did not think these things up…

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time                  Year A                                     12th February 2023 Lectionary Readings: Deuteronomy 30 v15-20;     Psalm 119 v1-8;     1 Corinthians 3 v1-9;     Matthew 5 v21-37. Are you still a baby? The apostle Paul in his letter to newly converted Christians in Corinth, takes them to task for not behaving properly towards each other. My…

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time                   Year A                                     5th February 2023 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 58 v1-9a; Psalm 112 v1-9; 1 Corinthians 2 v1-12; Matthew 5 v13-20 Understanding the mind of God. Jesus said, “Don’t suppose that I came to do away with the Law and the prophets. I did not come to do away with…

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time               Year A                                     29th January 2023. Lectionary Readings: Micah 6 v1-8; psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1 v18-31; Matthew 5 v1-12. The sermon on the mount. As we have seen before, Matthew echoes the life of Moses in the way he portrays Jesus. Jesus goes up a mountain and brings God’s…

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.                Year A                                    22nd January 2023 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 9 v1-4;             Psalm 27 v1, 4-9;       1 Corinthians 1 v10-18;        Matthew 4 v12-23. Pointers. In last week’s lectionary readings, John the Baptist was pointing to Jesus. This week, Paul is pointing away from himself, (or any other apostle) and towards…

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time               Year A                                                 15th January 2023 Lectionary Readings:  Isaiah 49 v1-7;  Psalm 40 v1-11;  1 Corinthians 1 v1-9;  John 1 v29-42. Partners with Jesus. God spoke to the people of Israel during their time in exile, through his prophet Isaiah. The Lord said to me; “Israel, you are my servant…

First Sunday in ordinary Time                    Year A                                                 8th January 2023 Lectionary readings:   Isaiah 42 v1-9;     Psalm 29;     Acts 10 v34-43;     Matthew 3 v13-17. The Lord God’s Servant. The (second) prophet Isaiah is addressing the people of Israel during their time of exile in Babylonia. I think that Isaiah’s reference to the Lord God’s servant…

First Sunday of Christmas               Year A                                                 1st January 2023 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 63 v7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2 v10-18; Matthew 2 v13-23. Joseph’s obedience. Matthew’s gospel records the escape to and return from Egypt of Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus. After the wise men had gone, an angel from the Lord appeared to…