Easter Sunday Year B 4th April 2021. Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 25 v6-9; Psalm 118 v14-24; 1 Cor15 v1-11, 20; Mark 16 v1-8. What if? Mark was writing to a mix of people, some with a Jewish background and a knowledge of scripture, (our Old Testament), and others from a ‘Gentile’ background with no…
Palm Sunday Year B 28th March 2021 Lectionary Readings: Psalm 118 v1-2, 19-29. Mark 11 v1-11. A threat to national security? I doubt whether Pontius Pilate enjoyed his visits to Jerusalem. As the Emperor’s local governor, charged with maintaining law and order, he was obliged to be present at major Jewish…
Fifth Sunday in Lent Year B 21st March 2021 Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 31 v31-34; Psalm 51 v1,2; Hebrews 5 v5-10; John v20-33. ‘Freedom from bondage’ and ‘Daring to think differently’. John, writing at the end of the first century, was mindful of the everyday persecution suffered by Christian communities spread across the eastern…
Fourth Sunday in Lent Year B 14th March 2021 Lectionary readings Numbers 21 v4-9. Psalm 107 v1-3, 17-22. Ephesians 2 v1-10. John 3 v14-21 Symbols of God’s saving activity. In the gospel reading John is linking the lifting up of Jesus on the cross with the bronze snake lifted up on a pole…
Third Sunday of Lent Year B 7th March 2021 Lectionary Readings: Exodus 20 v1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1 v18-25; John 2 v13-22. The wonders of God and the goodness of his Law. Psalm 19 is one of many attributed to King David. In the opening verses David is marvelling at the way God…
Second Sunday in Lent Year B 28th February 2021 Lectionary readings: Genesis 17 v1-7, 15,16. Psalm 22 v23-31. Romans 4 v13-25. Mark 8 v31-38. Follow me. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus said to his disciples and the gathered crowd, “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself.…
First Sunday in Lent Year B 21st February 2021 Lectionary readings: Genesis 9 v8-17; Psalm 25 v1-10; 1 Peter 3 v18-22; Mark 1 v9-15. Being ‘saved’ really is ‘good news’. One way of linking together this week’s readings is to explore the theme of being ‘saved’. In the story of Noah and the ark, God…
Sunday before Lent Year B 14th February 2021 Lectionary readings: 2 Kings 2 v1-12, Psalm 50 v1-6, 2 Corinthians 4 v3-6, Mark 9 v2-9. Putting doubts to bed. In the gospel reading, Jesus appears to have arranged a tutorial for his closest disciples, Peter, James and John. Jesus takes them to…
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 7th February 2021. Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 40 v21-31 God rules the whole earth. Psalm 147 v1-11, 20c. Sing and Praise the Lord. 1 Corinthians 9 v16-23. The rights of an apostle. Mark 1 v29-39. Jesus heals many people. Healing and Healing. The passage of scripture from Mark’s…
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 31st January 2021. Lectionary Readings: Deuteronomy 18 v15-20. A prophet like Moses. Psalm 111 Praise the Lord for all that he has done. 1 Corinthians 8 v1-13. Honouring God instead of Idols. Mark 1 v21-28 A man with an evil spirit. Wisdom and good sense. The Psalmist…