Here are the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Lent - Year B
Please check out the Lenten Blog just below this posting
Third Sunday of Lent
Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19, I Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22
Reflection on Sunday - Daily Psalm – Psalm 84
Monday: 1 Kings 6:1-4, 21-22; 1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Tuesday 2 Chronicles 29:1-11, 16-19; Hebrews 9:23-28
Wednesday Ezra 6:1-16; Mark: 15-19
Preparation for Sunday – Daily Psalm – Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Thursday: Genesis 9:8-17; Ephesians 1:3-6
Friday: Daniel 12:5-13; Ephesians 1:7-14
Saturday Numbers 20:22-29; John 3:1-13
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21
Reflection on Sunday - Daily Psalm – Psalm 107:1-16
Monday: Exodus 15:22-27; Hebrews 3:1-6
Tuesday: Numbers 20:1-13; 1 Corinthians 10:6-13
Wednesday: Isaiah 60:15-22; John 8:12-20
Preparation for Sunday – Daily Psalm – Psalm 51:1-11
Thursday: Isaiah 30:15-18; Hebrews 4:1-13
Friday: Exodus 30:1-10; Hebrews 14:14-5:4
Saturday: Habakkuk 3:2-13; John 12:1-11
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33
Reflection on Sunday - Daily Psalm – Psalm 119:9-16
Monday: Isaiah 43:8-13; 2 Corinthians 3:4-11
Tuesday: Isaiah 44:1-8; Acts 2:14-24
Wednesday: Haggai 2:1-9, 20-23
Preparation for Sunday – Daily Psalm – Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Thursday: Deuteronomy 16:1-8; Philippians 2:1-11
Friday: Jeremiah 33:1-9; Philippians 2:12-18
Saturday: Jeremiah 33: 10-16; Mark 10:32-34, 46-52
Sixth Sunday of Lent
Liturgy of the Psalms
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16
Liturgy of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47
Holy Week Readings
Monday: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11
Tuesday: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; I Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36
Wednesday: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32
Thursday: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116: 1-2, 12-19; I Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Good Friday: Isaiah 53:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; John 18:1-19:42
Holy Saturday: Job 14:1-4; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8;
Matthew 27:57-66
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Lenten Blog 2009
During Lent the readings in the Jewish scriptures take us through the major Old Testement Covenants. Examining these covenants brings us to the point of our Baptismal Renewal on Easter Sunday. I have named the covenants as follows.
Lent 1 – March 1 -The Covenant of New Beginnings
Lent 2 – March 8, 2009- The Covenant of Faith
Lent 3 – March 15 – Living in Covenantal Community
Lent 4 – March 22 – The Covenant of Restoration and Healing
Lent 5 – March 29 - The Covenant of the Heart
On April 5th, Palm/Passion Sunday, we will explore the Covenant of the Passion.
Rather than opening up a new post for each Sunday, I will leave up a continual blog for Lent.
Here are some of my wondering wanderings for this coming Sunday.
The Covenant of Restoration and Healing
Service of Healing
Numbers 21:4-9 –
Grumbling in the Wilderness leading to The Snake in the Wilderness
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21
While there is certainly judgment for those who do not “believe,” that judgment does not come from the Son, but from the unbelievers’ own deeds. In this context, “believe” does not mean a bare intellectual assent to propositional statements, such as we would find in a creed or confession of faith. To “believe” is a matter of both experience and action. Jesus will be lifted up on the cross, as the serpent was lifted up by Moses in the wilderness, so that people may experience his example of total devotion and self-giving love. Equally important, those who believe in Jesus’ example on the cross will also act out that example in themselves: they will do what Jesus does, and so “their deeds have been done in God,” and they will “come to the light.”
Lent 3 – March 15 – Living in Covenental Community – identification as covenant believer rather than as one endorsing the ways of the world.
Exodus – 20:1-17
Ten Commandments – Continuation of the Covenant
The Ten Commandments help us focus on the role of community – how do we live together by focusing on the needs of the other, not just our own. There is a self-identity as a believer in the covenant rather than in the ways of the world.
I Cor. 1:18-25 –
Making foolish the wisdom of the world
John 2:13-22
Jesus casting out the temple cheats
Jesus destroying the temple economy is about much the same thing – taking advantage of those who do not have the necessities of worship with a kind of company store mentality.
Lent 1 – March 1 -The Covenant of New Beginnings
Lent 2 – March 8, 2009- The Covenant of Faith
Lent 3 – March 15 – Living in Covenantal Community
Lent 4 – March 22 – The Covenant of Restoration and Healing
Lent 5 – March 29 - The Covenant of the Heart
On April 5th, Palm/Passion Sunday, we will explore the Covenant of the Passion.
Rather than opening up a new post for each Sunday, I will leave up a continual blog for Lent.
Here are some of my wondering wanderings for this coming Sunday.
The Covenant of Restoration and Healing
Service of Healing
Numbers 21:4-9 –
Grumbling in the Wilderness leading to The Snake in the Wilderness
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21
While there is certainly judgment for those who do not “believe,” that judgment does not come from the Son, but from the unbelievers’ own deeds. In this context, “believe” does not mean a bare intellectual assent to propositional statements, such as we would find in a creed or confession of faith. To “believe” is a matter of both experience and action. Jesus will be lifted up on the cross, as the serpent was lifted up by Moses in the wilderness, so that people may experience his example of total devotion and self-giving love. Equally important, those who believe in Jesus’ example on the cross will also act out that example in themselves: they will do what Jesus does, and so “their deeds have been done in God,” and they will “come to the light.”
Lent 3 – March 15 – Living in Covenental Community – identification as covenant believer rather than as one endorsing the ways of the world.
Exodus – 20:1-17
Ten Commandments – Continuation of the Covenant
The Ten Commandments help us focus on the role of community – how do we live together by focusing on the needs of the other, not just our own. There is a self-identity as a believer in the covenant rather than in the ways of the world.
I Cor. 1:18-25 –
Making foolish the wisdom of the world
John 2:13-22
Jesus casting out the temple cheats
Jesus destroying the temple economy is about much the same thing – taking advantage of those who do not have the necessities of worship with a kind of company store mentality.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany - February 15
Greetings,
The texts for this week are:
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Mark 1:40-45
You may find them at www.textweek.com or http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BEpiphany/bEpiphany6.htm
Although at first glance it appears that the common theme of these texts is healing - Elisha heals Naaman and Jesus heals a leper - a second glance brings another theme - humility.
Naaman tried to impress Israel's king with his wealth, military prowess and connections but was healed only when he humbled himself before Elisha's commands. The leper in Mark came to Jesus begging for healing - and then, even though he had been warned not to - proclaimed the story of his healing - pointing not to himself but to Jesus.
We live in a culture where humlity has often been equated with either silliness or falsehood- take for instance the Uriah Heeps of Dickons fame, who loudly and often proclaimed his humlity. We are not used to people who are truly humble.
What does true humility look like?
Shalom!
The texts for this week are:
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Mark 1:40-45
You may find them at www.textweek.com or http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BEpiphany/bEpiphany6.htm
Although at first glance it appears that the common theme of these texts is healing - Elisha heals Naaman and Jesus heals a leper - a second glance brings another theme - humility.
Naaman tried to impress Israel's king with his wealth, military prowess and connections but was healed only when he humbled himself before Elisha's commands. The leper in Mark came to Jesus begging for healing - and then, even though he had been warned not to - proclaimed the story of his healing - pointing not to himself but to Jesus.
We live in a culture where humlity has often been equated with either silliness or falsehood- take for instance the Uriah Heeps of Dickons fame, who loudly and often proclaimed his humlity. We are not used to people who are truly humble.
What does true humility look like?
Shalom!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Epiphany 5 - February8
Greetings,
Sorry I haven't posted for a couple of weeks.
If you are reading this blog but not signed in will you please sign in? We would like to know how many folks are reading this!
Also, we have changed the March Bookclub book to Green Collar Economy by Van Jones.
This weeks texts are:
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
You may find them at either
http://www.textweek.com/ or
http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BEpiphany/bEpiphany5.htm
The Isaiah text is part of the funeral liturgy in the United Methodist Church Book of Worship. As often as I have read those words - I alway find comfort.
Isaiah 40:21-31
21Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; 23who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. 24Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.
27Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
The comfort comes, not so much because I belive that God is in total control of all things, but because the reading reminds me that there is nothing under the sun that God and God's people have not experienced. As Bruce Epperly, in the Process and Faith Lectionary commentary puts it -
Surely, Isaiah was aware of the challenges of life—politically, economically, and personally. In fact, his reflections on the cosmos emerge in the context of all too real experiences of pain and loss for the prophet and his people. Isaiah is painfully and personally aware of the finitude of life and the temptation to give up hope as we face challenges that may never be resolved; illness that is incurable, chronic, or painful; stock portfolios that may never fully recover the ravages of the past few months; or political situations that are intractable. We need strength and courage, as well as wisdom, for the living of these days. (http://www.processandfaith.org/lectionary/YearB/2008-2009/2009-02-08.shtml)
I think that is what I love the most about scripture - regardless of when it was written and when it is read, there is a resonance with the stories that are told. People have always struggled, people have always felt joy, people have always questioned their faith, and God has continually shown us new perspectives. While we may feel at the center of the universe, God sees the much grander picture. Isaiah was awed at the sight of the stars, or of an eagle. We are awed at the thought of an infinity of galaxies, and God sees more than that.
The people who heard Isaiah's prophecy were challenged to go deep into their spirituality to see beyond their current reality and to find a space for hope. We are challenged to do the same.
How might your spiritual life be strengthened to face the difficulties of these days?
Sorry I haven't posted for a couple of weeks.
If you are reading this blog but not signed in will you please sign in? We would like to know how many folks are reading this!
Also, we have changed the March Bookclub book to Green Collar Economy by Van Jones.
This weeks texts are:
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
You may find them at either
http://www.textweek.com/ or
http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BEpiphany/bEpiphany5.htm
The Isaiah text is part of the funeral liturgy in the United Methodist Church Book of Worship. As often as I have read those words - I alway find comfort.
Isaiah 40:21-31
21Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; 23who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. 24Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.
27Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
The comfort comes, not so much because I belive that God is in total control of all things, but because the reading reminds me that there is nothing under the sun that God and God's people have not experienced. As Bruce Epperly, in the Process and Faith Lectionary commentary puts it -
Surely, Isaiah was aware of the challenges of life—politically, economically, and personally. In fact, his reflections on the cosmos emerge in the context of all too real experiences of pain and loss for the prophet and his people. Isaiah is painfully and personally aware of the finitude of life and the temptation to give up hope as we face challenges that may never be resolved; illness that is incurable, chronic, or painful; stock portfolios that may never fully recover the ravages of the past few months; or political situations that are intractable. We need strength and courage, as well as wisdom, for the living of these days. (http://www.processandfaith.org/lectionary/YearB/2008-2009/2009-02-08.shtml)
I think that is what I love the most about scripture - regardless of when it was written and when it is read, there is a resonance with the stories that are told. People have always struggled, people have always felt joy, people have always questioned their faith, and God has continually shown us new perspectives. While we may feel at the center of the universe, God sees the much grander picture. Isaiah was awed at the sight of the stars, or of an eagle. We are awed at the thought of an infinity of galaxies, and God sees more than that.
The people who heard Isaiah's prophecy were challenged to go deep into their spirituality to see beyond their current reality and to find a space for hope. We are challenged to do the same.
How might your spiritual life be strengthened to face the difficulties of these days?
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