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…

Christmas Day                                  Year A                                                 25th December 2022 Lectionary Readings:    Isaiah 9 v2-7;    Psalm 96;    Titus 2 v11-14;    Luke 2 v1-14. Good news for everyone. A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God, Eternal Father and…

Fourth Sunday of Advent                 Year A                                                 18th December 2022 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 7 v10-16;       Psalm 80 v1-7, 17-19;      Romans 1 v1-7;       Matthew 1 v18-25. Poor Mary! By tradition, Mary is the focus of the fourth Sunday in Advent, though you would be hard put to evidence that from today’s readings! This is how Jesus…

Third Sunday of Advent                               Year A                                     11th December 2022 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 35 v1-10; Psalm 146 v5-10; James 5 v7-10; Matthew 11 v2-11. Work it out for yourself. Here is a message for all who are weak, trembling and worried. “Cheer up! Don’t be afraid. Your God is coming. The blind will see and…

Second Sunday in Advent                            Year A                                     4th December 2022 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 11 v1-10;         Psalm 72 v1-7, 18-19;            Romans 15 v4-13;     Matthew 3 v1-12. Hope draws near. The Old Testament reading today is from Isaiah and records his prophecy about the origin and nature of the Messiah. “Like a branch that…

First Sunday in Advent                                Year A                                     27th November 2022 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 2 v1-5;  Psalm 122;  Romans 13 v11-14;  Matthew 24 v36-44. Living in the light. The apostle Paul wrote these timeless words, You know what sort of times we live in, and so you should live properly. It is time to wake up.…

Sunday before Advent                                  Year C                         20th November 2022 Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 23 v1-6;  Psalm 46;  Colossians 1 v11-20;  Luke 23 v33-43. Christ the King. The lectionary year closes with readings that remind us of who it is that we follow on our journey as disciples. During the prophet Jeremiah’s lifetime, Babylonia conquered Judah…