Tag: Lectionary
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When you’re called by God
The Second Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 5, Year A—June 7, 2026Track 1* Genesis 12:1-9Psalm 33:1-12Romans 4:13-25Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 *In the Episcopal Church, there are two “tracks” during Ordinary Time following Pentecost; each follows different readings from the Hebrew Scriptures and accompanying Psalms. You’ve gotta hear this song by Tara Vanflower:…
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It’s complicated.
The First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday Genesis 1:1-2:4a 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 Matthew 28:16-20 Psalm 8 The image above is a popular iconographic depcition of the Holy Trinity, interpreting the three angelic visitors received by Abraham and Sarah as a representation of the Trinity. You can see many different versions…
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God, I’m thirsty
The Third Sunday in Lent, Year A—March 8, 2026 Exodus 17:1-7 Romans 5:1-11 John 4:5-42 Psalm 95 I hate Lent. …Stick with me, though. At least in the Episcopal Church, we do so much chest-beating—perhaps not literally, but if you pay attention to the words we’re praying, saying, and singing,…
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What might we expect?
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany—February 15, 2026 Exodus 24:12-182 Peter 1:16-21Matthew 17:1-9Psalm 2or Psalm 99 The Sunday before Lent begins, the Church invites us on a curious excursion, and in the image above by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, we see Christ leading three disciples on this same journey. The Transfiguration of…
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This is not the Lamb you think you seek
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A—January 17, 2026 Isaiah 49:1-7 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42 Psalm 40:1-12 Today’s Gospel begins in the second day of a three-day sequence in the ministry of John the Baptist: Day 1: In conversation with some Pharisees, John dispenses with the popular suggestions…
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Epiphany
Year A—January 6, 2026 Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 Psalm 72:1-7,10-14 The image above is a very small piece housed at the Met. It’s a mere 5.75 x 4.5 inches (14.6×11.4 cm), though the frame it’s in probably almost doubles the size. That small size seems appropriate: Like…
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The Second Sunday after Christmas
Years A—January 4, 2026 Happy New Year! And Merry Christmas. The readings for this Sunday are: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 or Luke 2:41-52 or Matthew 2:1-12 Psalm 84 or 84:1-8 Since these are the same readings assigned to all three years of the lectionary cycle, I will use the first…
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The First Sunday after Christmas
Year A—December 28, 2025 Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 or 147:13-21 I feel for preachers. My instinct is to try to draw something out of each of these texts and weave it all together…but what hasn’t already been said about these passages? Not only does Christmas…
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Christmas Day
Selection I—All Years Isaiah 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14(15-20) Psalm 96 Merry Christmas! [There are three different sets of readings for Christmas Day. In my experience—admittedly, only with cathedrals—the first set is used on Christmas Eve, while the second and third are used in services on Christmas Day. Since they…
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The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Year A—December 21, 2025 Isaiah 7:10-16 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25 Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 We are closing in on Christmas! This week’s readings are compact: they get to the point. Sort of. They hold out familiar words and images, and we can walk right in and take those words and images…
