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…
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 4th October 2020. Lectionary Readings Isaiah 5 v1-7. A song about a vineyard. Philippians 3 v4b-14. Being acceptable to God. Matthew 21 v33-46. Tenants of a vineyard. “Are you receiving me? Over” Like a radio operator, Jesus is asking his listeners, (Chief Priests, Temple Leaders, Teachers…
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 27th September 2020. Lectionary Readings: Ezekiel 18 v1-4, 25-32. Stop sinning and live! Philippians 2 v1-13. Christ’s example of true humility. Matthew 21 v23-32. A question about Jesus’ authority and a story about two sons. Seeing is Believing (for some, but not all, it seems.) Jesus…
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 20th September 2020. Lectionary Readings: Jonah 3 v10-4 v11 The people of Nineveh believe God’s message. Philippians 1 v21-30 What life means to Paul. Matthew 20 v1-16. Workers in a vineyard. Just to turn things on their head, I am starting with some questions for you to ponder:-…