Second Sunday of Christmas                                   Year C                        5th  January 2025 Lectionary readings:Jeremiah 31   v7-14               Israel will return to its own land.Psalm 147                               Sing and praise the Lord.Ephesians 1 v3-14                  Christ brings spiritual blessings.John 1 v1-18.                         The Word of life. The ‘Ultimate Blessing’. Jeremiah foretells of a time when God’s people will celebrate…

First Sunday of Christmas.                          Year C                         29th December 2024 Lectionary Readings: 1 Samuel 2 v18-20,26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3 v12-17; Luke 2 v41-52. Nurture. At the end of today’s reading from Luke’s gospel, Luke writes, ‘Jesus became wise’ (v52a). Sure, Jesus became wise as he matured, but I don’t think he was wise at…

Fourth Sunday of Advent                             Year C                         22nd  December 2024 Lectionary Readings:   Micah 5 v2-5a;     Hebrews 10 v5-10;     Luke 1 v39-45 (46-55). An invitation to make a connection. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her. The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. (Luke 1 v41). Why has Luke mentioned the Holy Spirit in…

Third Sunday of Advent                     Year C                                              15th December 2024 Lectionary Readings:   Zephaniah 3 v14-20;   Philippians 4 v4-7;   Luke 3 v7-18. Jumping on the bandwagon. ‘Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, “You snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgement? Do something to show that you…

Second Sunday of Advent                            Year C                               8th December 2024 Lectionary readings:   Malachi 3 v1-4;   Philippians 1 v3-11;   Luke 3 v1-6. Being able to see the saving power of God. The prophet Malachi speaking on God’s behalf said; “The messenger you desire is coming with my promise and he is on his way.” (Malachi…

First Sunday of Advent                                Year C                                 1st December 2024 Lectionary readings: Jeremiah 33 v14-16;  Psalm 25 v1-10;  1 Thessalonians 3 v9-13;    Luke 21 v25-36. Looking back and moving on. The lectionary readings this week are a curious mix. They seem to be inviting us to look back to our roots, to ponder our…

Sunday before Advent (Christ the King).               Year B                         24th  November 2024. Lectionary Readings: Daniel 7 v9-10, 13-14;  Psalm 93;  Revelation 1 v4b-8;  John 18 v33-37. Added extras. John’s version of the encounter between Jesus and Pilate is more detailed than those of Mark, Matthew and Luke. (Mark 15 v1-5; Matthew 27 v11-14; Luke 23…

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time                  Year B                                17th November 2024. Lectionary readings: Daniel 12 v1-3;   Psalm 16;   Hebrews 10 v11-25;   Mark 13 v1-8. Troubles. “Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. There will be earthquakes in many places and people will starve to death. But this is just the beginning…

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary time.               Year B                            10th November 2024. Lectionary Readings:  1 Kings 17 v8-16;  Psalm 146;  Hebrews 9 v24-28;  Mark 12 v38-44. Compassion plus ? = Justice Mark tells a story about a poor widow who placed all she had, as a gift, into the Temple offering box. (Mark 12 v41-44).…

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time                   Year B                         3rd November 2024. Lectionary Readings: Deuteronomy 6 v1-9;     Psalm 119 v1-8;     Hebrews 9 v11-14;     Mark 12 v28-34. The most important commandment. One of the teachers of the law of Moses….. asked Jesus “What is the most important commandment?” Jesus answered “The most important one says: ‘people…