Lectionary Reflections

  Theme This week’s readings invite us to consider the value of forgiveness in the Kingdom of God. In Matthew, Peter asks Jesus how many times we should forgive and Jesus tells a parable about a king who forgives an insurmountable amount of debt. In Genesis, Joseph forgives his brothers after their immense betrayal. In Romans, Paul warns against condemning others for their choices or beliefs. The Psalms and Exodus passage offer songs of praise and thanksgiving for God’s forgiveness and mercy. Scripture Readings Exodus 14:19-31 - God parts the red sea for the Israelites as they escape from Egypt. The Egyptians chase the Israelites but the sea closes over them before they can get through. Psalm 114 - A Psalm exclaiming God’s glory for rescuing the Israelites and destroying the Egyptians. Romans 14:1-12 - Paul warns against the dangers of condemning each other for their beliefs or choices. He says that their master will judge them, that is not our job. A person’s motives b...

  Theme This week’s lectionary readings warn against wicked living and encourage God’s people to live together peacefully and respectfully, especially when conflict arises. In Romans, Paul explains that all of God’s Laws can be summed up by the command to love your neighbour. Jesus explains how to deal with conflict in community life. Ezekiel is called to warn God’s people to turn from their wicked ways and follow God. Scripture Readings Exodus 12:1-14 - God instructs the Israelites to sacrifice a young goat or sheep every year and smear some of the blood of the animal around their doorframes. God will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male in the land, but the blood on their doorposts will serve as a sign and the plague of death will pass over them. This day marks the Passover of the Lord and must be celebrated every year as a special festival to God. Psalm 149 - A Psalm of praise to God, encouraging God’s people to sing praises to the Lord. ...

  Theme This week’s readings speak about what the life of a Christ-follower should look like. In Matthew, Jesus tells his followers that they must pick up their crosses and be willing to suffer for his sake. In Romans, Paul gives the Christians in Rome a list of do’s and don'ts as they live out their faith. In Jeremiah and the Psalm, the authors remind God of their good deeds so that they can be honoured and rescued by God. Scripture Readings Exodus 3:1-15 - While tending the flock of his father-in-law, Moses comes across a burning bush. Even though it was engulfed in flames, the bush did not burn up. God called to Moses from the bush and instructed him to take off his sandals because he is standing on holy ground. God tells Moses that He has heard the cry of His people in their suffering and He is coming to rescue them and lead them into their own fertile land. God sends Moses to appear before Pharaoh and lead the people out of Egypt. Moses protests but God promises to be...

  Theme This week’s readings speak about the partnership that Christ-followers are called into with God. Romans speaks about the various gifts that God gives to people. We are encouraged to offer these gifts back to God as a living sacrifice. Moses’ mother used her initiative to save her son’s life and even get him a place of honour in the Egyptian courts. Jesus identifies Peter’s gifts and declares that he will be integral to the building of the church. Isaiah reminds us what God can do with seemingly hopeless cases that remain faithful to God. Scripture Readings Exodus 1:8-2:10 - The Egyptians enslave the Israelite people because they became fearful of their numbers and strength. Pharaoh instructs the Egyptian midwives to kill all Israelite babies who are boys, but the Midwives disobey and let them live. Pharaoh found out about this and commanded that all Hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile River. Moses is born to a woman from the tribe of Levi around this time. His mother...

  Theme This week’s readings speak about the hope and assurance God’s people can experience as they await the new creation. In Genesis, Jacob encounters God in a dream and is promised land and descendents in the future. This encounter makes Jacob more aware of and grateful for God’s presence in the current moment. Romans declares that God’s people are assured that they are adopted as God’s children and they will experience the rights and priveleges of such an adoption. In Matthew, Jesus explains how God will sort through the wheat and the weeds and they may be required to grow together until then. In Isaiah, God declares that He is the one true God who will prove His faithfulness and generosity. Scripture Readings Genesis 28:10-19a - Jacob dreams about a stairway from earth to heaven where angels of God ascended and descended. God stood at the top of the stairway and announced that the land that Jacob slept on would be given to him and he would be blessed with many descende...

Theme This week’s readings remind us of how our faith in God is closely linked to how we treat others. In Genesis, Abraham’s faith is tested after he exiled Hagar and Ishmael. In Romans, the author explains how we are no longer slaves to sin and true faith will result in righteous living. In Matthew, Jesus links himself to his disciples and to God, claiming that those who treat his disciples well will be rewarded. Jeremiah says that the truth of someone’s prophecy would be seen in the fruit that it produces. Scripture Readings Genesis 22:1-14 - God tells Abraham to take his son Isaac to the mountain and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Abraham obeys and when Isaac asks where the sheep is, Abraham says that God will provide. After Abraham ties up Isaac and is about to kill him, an angel intervenes and tells him not to kill the boy because he has proven that he truly fears God. They find a ram nearby that they sacrifice instead. Psalm 13 - A Psalm of lament, asking God how lo...

Theme This week’s readings remind us that we may experience ridicule and shame for following Jesus, but God will care for us throughout our suffering. In Genesis, Abraham banishes Hagar and Ishmael to the wilderness but God hears their cries and responds in love. In Matthew, Jesus says that his followers will face ridicule and persecution, but they must be willing to take up their cross. Jeremiah complains about being mocked, but commits to honouring God regardless. The Psalmists endure insults and ask God for protection. Scripture Readings Genesis 21:8-21 - Abraham is about to bless Isaac when Ishmael, his son with Hagar, mocks him. Sarah asks Abraham to send Ishmael and Hagar away because she doesn’t want Ishmael to share Abraham’s inheritance. After conversing with God, Abraham sends them away, but God promises to make a nation out of Ishmael’s descendants as well. Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the desert. At the point of starvation, Hagar left Ishmael in a nearby bush as ...

Theme This week’s readings remind us that God’s people are a chosen group that God loves and protects. In Romans, Paul declares that Christians have an undeserved privilege of God’s grace and love. In Matthew, Jesus sends the disciples out to minister to the world with God’s own authority. In Exodus, God calls the Israelites God’s own special treasure that God rescued from captivity in Egypt. The Psalmist declares that Israel are the sheep of God’s pasture. Scripture Readings Genesis 18:1-15 , (21:1-7) - Abraham is visited by three men. After welcoming them and serving them food, the visitors tell Abraham that his wife Sarah will soon bear a son. Sarah was listening nearby and laughed at this news because she was past child-bearing age. Yahweh asks Abraham why Sarah laughed. saying that “is anything too hard for the Lord?” but Sarah denied laughing. Chapter 21 tells of the birth of Isaac, Sarah’s firstborn son that was promised to Abraham. Psalm 116:1-2 ,  12-19 - A Psalm o...

Theme This week’s readings speak about the importance of faith and the cost (and blessing) of answering God’s call. In Genesis, Abram’s faith is revealed in the way he obeys God’s call to pack up and move. In Romans, Paul explains that Abram was chosen and blessed because of his faith. In Matthew, Jesus calls a tax-collector and a woman is healed because of her faith. In Hosea and Psalm 50, God claims to desire a pure heart rather than sacrifice and burnt offerings. Scripture Readings Genesis 12:1-9 - God tells Abram to leave his land and family and go to Canaan. God declares that the land will be given to Abram’s descendants, who will be blessed and be made a great people. Psalm 33:1-12 - A Psalm of praise for all that God has created. Romans 4:13-25 - God promises to give land to Abraham’s descendants because of his right relationship with God through faith, not his obedience to God’s law. Abraham became a father to many nations because he believed in a God who raise...

  Theme On Trinity Sunday, the prescribed scripture readings invite us to reflect on the three persons of the Trinity. In Genesis, the Creation story describes God’s creative, life-giving nature. In 2 Corinthians, Paul shares a vision of a church living effectively by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Matthew, Jesus connects himself with God’s authority and the presence of the Holy Spirit, giving us a vivid image of the Holy Trinity and the relationship within the Godhead. Scripture Readings Genesis 1:1-2:4a - The first Creation story found in Scripture. God creates the universe from nothing. On day 1, God creates light. On day 2, God separates the waters and the sky. On day 3, God separates the water from dry land and creates plants. On day 4, God creates lights in the sky. On day 5, God creates sea creatures and birds. On day 6, God created land animals and humankind in God’s own image. On day 7, God rested. After every day, God declared Creation as good and after day 6, G...

We have just entered into the longest season of our church calendars: The Season after Pentecost. It is sometimes referred to as Pentecost Season, Pentecostide, or Kingdomtide. It is a continuation of the Season after Epiphany. This season carries us all the way from Pentecost Sunday up to the beginning of Advent at the end of November. This is 25 weeks in total (almost half of the entire year). The liturgical colour for this season is green. The Season after Pentecost is one of two periods known as ordinary time which fall outside of the big Christian holidays ( Christmas and Easter ) and the preparation seasons that prelude them ( Advent and Lent ). While the “big” seasons invite us to reflect on the person and character of Jesus, ordinary time encourages us to reflect on our role as individuals and communities as we seek to follow Jesus in our daily lives. After the glitz and glamour of Pentecost, where the Church of Christ was established, the Season after Pentecost gives ...