Third Sunday in Advent Year B 13th December 2020 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 61 v1-4, 8-11. The good news of victory. 1 Thessalonians 5 v16-24. Always be joyful and never stop praying. John 1 v6-8, 19-28. The message of John the Baptist. Deep roots. The prophecies of Isaiah about the good news of…
The Second Sunday in Advent. Year B 6th December 2020 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 40 v1-11 The Lord will rescue his people. Psalm 85 v1-2, 8-13. A prayer for peace. 2 Peter 3 v8-15a. The Lord’s return is certain. Mark 1 v1-8. The preaching of John the Baptist. Leadership In his prayer for…
First Sunday in Advent. Year B 29th November 2020 Lectionary Readings Isaiah 64 v1-9 Rip the heavens apart! 1 Corinthians 1 v3-9 Signs of God at work. Mark 13 v24-27 When the Son of Man appears. Signs and blessings. (The third?) Isaiah was writing after the return of the exiles from Babylon,…
The Sunday before Advent Year A 22nd November 2020 Lectionary Readings Ezekiel 34 v11-16, 20-24. The Lord is the good shepherd. Ephesians 1 v15-23 Paul’s prayer. Matthew 25 v31-46. The final judgement. Judgement Time Both Ezekiel and Matthew have been taking the religious leaders of their day to task for failing to provide…
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 15th November 2020. Lectionary Readings Zephaniah 1 v7, 12-18. A terrible day. 1 Thessalonians 5 v1-11 You belong to the light. Matthew 25 v14-30 A story about three servants. Investment returns. The gospel reading this week is another parable on the theme of the Kingdom. “The Kingdom…
32nd Sunday in ordinary Time Year A 8th November 2020. Lectionary readings Amos 5 v18-24 What the Lord demands. 1 Thessalonians 4 v13-18. What to expect when the Lord returns. Matthew 25 v1-13. A story about ten girls. Are you ready to join the celebration? Amos, like most of the Old Testament prophets,…
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 1st November 2020. Lectionary Readings: Revelation 7 v 9-17 People of every nation. 1 John 3 v 1-3 Children of God. Matthew 5 v 1-12. The sermon on the mount. A Sense of Belonging. In the place of an old testament reading this week we have a…
30th Sunday in ordinary Time Year A 25th October 2020 Lectionary Readings: Leviciticus 19 v1-2, 15-18. Moral and religious laws. 1 Thessalonians 2 v1-8. Paul’s work in Thessalonica. Matthew 22 v 34-46. The most important commandments. Tricky questions, demanding answers. In the Old Testament passage, Moses speaks for God in declaring…
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 18th October 2020. Lectionary readings Isaiah 45 v1-7 Cyrus obeys the Lord’s commands. Thessalonians 1 v1-10 The Thessalonian’s faith and example. Matthew 22 v15-22. Paying taxes. Knowing and Believing. I wonder if King Cyrus of Persia ever knew that God was using him as an…
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 11th October 2020 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 25 v1-9. A prayer of thanks to God. Philippians 4 v1-9. Paul encourages the Lord’s followers. Matthew 22 v1-14. The great banquet Actions have consequences. Matthew’s telling of the great banquet story contains some verses that are difficult to reconcile with…