Lectionary Reflections

  Theme This week’s readings invite us to worship God with our entire lives by giving generously, caring for God’s creation and not exploiting the vulnerable. In Mark, Jesus condemns the religious scribes and celebrates the poor widow who gives all that she owns to God. In Hebrews, Christ is exalted as the one who saves. In 1 Kings, a widow is blessed abundantly after she first cares for Elijah. The Psalmist reminds God’s people to put their hope and trust in God rather than worldly rulers and powers. Scripture Readings Mark 12:38-44 - Jesus warns against religious people who like to be noticed and respected. They abuse widows and say long prayers to look good. Jesus tells a story of a poor widow who put two small copper coins into the treasury while everyone around her gave large sums. It is the widow who contributed the most because she gave all she had to live on while the others gave out of their abundance. Hebrews 9:24-28 - Christ suffered once so that all may be saved ...

  Theme This week’s lectionary readings speak about marriage and divorce and God’s care for the vulnerable. In Mark, Jesus teaches about marriage and gives women and children valuable agency. In Genesis, a story is told of how a woman was created as a helpmate for Adam. In Job, we read about the start of Job’s tremendous suffering and continued faith in God. In Hebrews, we are reminded that God has been revealed in Jesus’ words and life. Scripture Readings Mark 10:2-16 - The Pharisees confront Jesus with a question about divorce to test him. Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce. Little children then come to Jesus but the disciples try to stop them. Jesus tells them to leave them alone and that they must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of God. Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 - While in the past God spoke through prophets and ancestors, now God has spoken through his Son. The Son is the exact representation of the Father’s being and after purifying sins, he now sits...

Theme This week’s readings remind us that God cares for the poor, the sick, the downtrodden and the oppressed. In Mark, Jesus first exorcises an outcast in society before healing a deaf and mute man. James reminds Christians to care for the poor because faith without action is dead. Isaiah and the Psalmist encourage people to trust in God who saves the oppressed and the hungry. Scripture Readings Mark 7:24-37 - A Syrophoenician women brings her possessed daughter to Jesus for healing. Jesus harshly responds by saying that the children should eat before the dogs. The women replies that even dogs eat the children’s scraps and Jesus heals her daughter because of her reply. Jesus then heals a deaf and mute man by spitting, touching his tongue and saying “Ephphatha” which means “be opened.” Jesus instructed everyone to keep quiet about his miracles, but they could not because they were so amazed. James 2:1-17 - Christians are instructed to not show favouritism and to care for the...

  Theme This week’s readings remind us that what we believe and what we say is less important than what we do - the way we live out our faith. In Mark, Jesus confronts the pharisees and religious leaders about being hypocritical and judging others while they commit grave wrongs themselves. In James, we are encouraged to not only listen to God’s word but to do what it says. In Deuteronomy, the Israelite people are instructed to hear and follow God’s laws. The Psalmist declares that the one who is blameless and righteous will dwell with God. Scripture Readings Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 - Jesus and some of his disciples are eating food with unwashed hands. The teachers of the Law ask Jesus why his disciples don’t obey the traditions of the Jewish elders? Jesus quotes Isaiah and tells the elders that they are holding onto human traditions and not the commands of God. Jesus states that nothing can defile a person by going into them, but only what comes out of them. It is from within, out...

Theme This week’s readings reveal that everyone has a choice to make - a choice to follow the will of God or to do evil. In John, Jesus explains that those who follow him are doing God’s will and acknowledges that many will turn away from him. In Ephesians, Paul explains that we are in a battle against powers and principalities and that we need to put the armour of God to stand against evil. Joshua assembles the tribes of Israel and tells them that they need to choose between the gods of their ancestors and the God that has brought them out of slavery and into this new land. The Psalmist declares that God protects those who serve God and punishes those who do evil. Scripture Readings John 6:56-69 - Jesus reiterates from previous weeks that anyone who eats his flesh and drinks his blood with remain in him and he in them. The disciples exclaim that this is a hard teaching to accept. Jesus says that the word he has spoken to them are full of the Spirit and life. But Jesus knew that ...

  Theme This week’s readings invite us to choose a life of wisdom and life over foolishness and evil. In John, Jesus teaches that those who stay connected to him are wise. Paul tells the Ephesian church to be wise and live lives filled by the Holy Spirit, avoiding evil. Proverbs speaks of Wisdom who invites the simple to dine at Her table. The Psalmist describes how the wise who fear the Lord will lack nothing. Scripture Readings John 6:51-58 - Jesus reiterates how he is the bread from heaven. This bread is his flesh and whoever eats it will live forever. The Jews argued how Jesus could give them flesh to eat. Jesus declares that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood remains in him, and he in them. Just as the Father sent Jesus and Jesus lived in him; Jesus sends us and we live in him. Ephesians 5:15-20 - Paul encourages the Church to live as wise people, making the most of every opportunity. Do not be foolish and get drunk on wine that leads to debauchery but instead ...

Theme This week’s readings remind us how God provides both spiritual and physical food for those who trust in God. In Exodus, we read of how God made manna rain down from heaven when the Israelites were worried about starving. The Psalmist celebrates the same event. In John, Jesus teaches that he is the bread of life and whoever feeds on him will never go hungry and enjoy eternal life. In Ephesians, Paul explains how Christ will build his Church up in maturity if they feed on the bread which he provides. Scripture Readings John 6:24-35 - After feeding the five thousand and walking on water, Jesus is sought by the crowds of people in Capernaum. Jesus tells them that they are looking for him because they enjoyed the food he provided, not because of what he said and did. Jesus teaches that they should not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life. Jesus explains that the work God requires is to believe in the one he has sent. The people ask for a sign like ...

  Theme This week’s readings speak of God’s power to do miraculous things and how God always ensures that there is enough for everyone, even when it seems like an impossibility. In John, Jesus feeds over five thousand people with only five loaves and two fish before appearing to his disciples by walking on the sea in the middle of a storm. In Ephesians, Paul prays that the Church would experience God’s strength and power, made visible in Christ’s love. In 2 Kings, Elisha also experiences a multiplication of food so that one hundred people could eat and be satisfied. The Psalmist praises God for being mighty and satisfying the desires of all in need. Scripture Readings John 6:1-21 - John’s account of Jesus feeding the 5000 and walking on water.. A large crowd of people kept following Jesus because of the signs he was doing for the sick. Cheekily, Jesus asks Philip where they will get enough food to feed everyone. Philip and Andrew say that it is impossible, but Jesus takes fi...

  Theme This week’s readings remind us that Christ is the Great Shepherd of humanity who loves and protects his flock of sheep. In Mark, Jesus has compassion on the people “because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” In Ephesians, the apostle Paul reminds the Gentiles that they have been welcomed into Christ’s flock. In Jeremiah, God condemns those destroying his sheep and prophesies that God will raise up a Righteous Shepherd to guide God’s people. Psalm 23 reminds us that God is our shepherd and we will lack nothing. Scripture Readings Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 - The disciples tell Jesus what they’ve been up to, all they’ve done and taught. Jesus invites the disciples to withdraw to a quiet place with Jesus to get some rest. They went away to solitary place, but many saw them leaving and followed them. When Jesus saw them, he had compassion on them “because they were like sheep without a shepherd,” and began teaching them many things. Later, Jesus travels by boat to Gannesa...

Theme This week’s readings speak of how we are called to speak God’s truths, regardless of the response we may get. God is the one who saves and protects us, not worldly powers and authorities. In Mark, King Herod uses his power to kill John the Baptizer who was prophesying in Herod’s “kingdom.” Amos speaks against King Jeroboam and is excommunicated. In Ephesians and the Psalm, we are reminded how we have been adopted as God’s children and how God saves and protects us. Scripture Readings Mark 6:14-29 - The story of John the Baptizer’s death. King Herod sends people to behead John the Baptizer, at the request of his wife. Herod did not want to kill him because he enjoyed listening to him. However, when his daughter danced for Herod and his guests, she pleased them and the king promised her anything she wanted, even half the kingdom. After consulting her mother, the daughter asked for John’s head. The king was grieved, but honored his promises and had John beheaded and delivered ...

  Theme This week’s readings speak about some of the opposition and challenges that Christians may face and a reminder that God shows up in our times of need. Jesus says that prophets are not honoured in their own homes. In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks about the thorn in his flesh and that God’s strength is revealed in his weakness. Ezekiel is called to be a prophet, even though he may not be accepted. The Psalmist cries out for God’s mercy for those who have suffered at the hands of the proud. Scripture Readings Mark 6:1-13 - Jesus preaches in the synagogue in Nazareth. The people are amazed at his wisdom and miracles, but they take offense at him. Jesus claims that a prophet is not honoured in their own home and is amazed at their lack of faith. Jesus teaches in various villages and sends his disciples out with authority. He instructs them to take nothing for the journey and to rely on the hospitality of others. If they are not welcomed, they must leave and not return. The disciple...

Theme The theme of this week’s readings is a reminder that we worship a God who lifts people up out of the depths of their sorrows and pains. Lamentations and the Psalm celebrate God’s faithfulness after being restored to joy after periods of mourning. The church in Corinth are reminded of how Jesus became poor so that they could be rich as they are encouraged to do the same for those in need around them. In Mark, Jesus heals a woman who touches his cloak and brings a little girl back to life by saying, “Talitha cum” (little girl, get up). Scripture Readings Lamentations 3:22-23 - A reminder of God’s faithfulness to all that seek him. It is good to suffer persecution and opposition because God is compassionate according to the abundance of his steadfast love. Psalm 30 - A Psalm of praise for God’s faithfulness and restoration after difficult times. “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” God saves us that we may praise God and give thanks to God forev...

This week, we are returning to our weekly Lectionary Reflections based on the prescribed readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. We are currently in The Season After Pentecost, also known as Ordinary Time. We are in Year B of the Lectionary which focuses on readings from the Gospel of Mark. As we journey through Ordinary Time over the next several months, we will journey through Mark’s action packed Gospel together. Ordinary Time also provides two Old Testament readings and two Psalms to reflect on. For the sake of brevity, we will primarily be using the two readings that link thematically to the Gospel reading. Theme There is a clear theme throughout this week’s readings of God’s faithfulness and salvation in times of distress. In Mark, Jesus calms the storm that caused the disciples much fear. In 2 Corinthians, Paul explains how God has sustained him and blessed others through his many trials and afflictions. In Job, Job is reminded of the greatness of the God whom he worships. ...