May 3 (Easter 5) Acts 7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 This week’s Gospel story takes us back to the evening of his arrest and his preparing the disciples for what is to come – and how they are to live. Amidst the strange words and confusion about death, leaving them, his […]
April 3-5 – Easter (Good Friday) – Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16-25 or John 18:1-19:42 (Easter Day) -Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10 The story of Easter is surrounded by violence and human struggle. It is into the context of […]
March 1 (Lent 2) Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 John 3:1-17 The season of Lent began with the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness. Henry Nouwen speaks of how Jesus entered solitude in the wilderness (last week’s Gospel reading) and was tempted with the 3 compulsions of the world: To be relevant – […]
Epiphany 4 (1 February) Readings: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; Matthew 5:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. It is important to bear in mind that these readings are set in the context of Epiphany: there’s an illumination, a revelation lurking in here. Matthew begins this narrative with the important words: “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and […]
Christmas 2 (4 January 2026) Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 147:12-20; John 1:1-18; Ephesians 1:3-14. John 1 is probably one of the best-known passages in the bible and exactly therefore, probably one of the least-known. And perhaps therefore, it may be a good idea to look at John through the lens of Jeremiah. Biblical scholars often refer to Jeremiah 30 and 31 as the “Little […]
Advent 2 (7 December) Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7; 18-19; Matthew 3:1-12; Romans 15:4-13 Both the Gospel as well as the OT readings place the voice that reaches us today as a ‘voice crying out in the wilderness’. The wilderness plays an important role in the history of Israel. It was a liminal space – an in-between space – […]
November 2, Proper 26 Readings: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 and Psalm 119:137-144, Isaiah 1:10-18 and Psalm 32:1-7, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Luke 19:1-10 Many of the readings set for this week revolve around how we might respond to sin, evil, violence and injustice. Following Habakkuk, we might ‘stand at the watch post and station ourselves on the […]
October 5, Proper 22 Readings: Lamentations 1:1-6 and Lamentations 3:19-26 or Psalm 137, Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 and Psalm 37:1-9, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 There is not always a clear theme linking the lectionary readings for any given week. And if someone told me this week’s readings were not chosen with a binding idea in mind, […]
September 7, Proper 18 Readings: Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Psalm 1, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 If there is a common theme in this week’s lectionary readings it is probably something to do with being formed and shaped by God. In Jeremiah 18 the people of Israel are likened to clay […]
“One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15) The lectionary readings for this month have some key recurring ideas around what it is we value in life, primarily what is it we treasure and how our lives reflect this. Starting with Luke (12:13-21, 32-40, 49-56, 13:10-17, 14:1,7-14) we have multiple teachings […]
What does is mean to be a follower of Jesus? How do we live out the mission and ministry of Christ on our lives, and in our churches? I invite you to hold these questions as you explore the lectionary readings for this month. After our Easter sojourn into the gospel of John, we return […]
There are celebrations galore in the month of June. Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, and of course the anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia. The New Testament lectionary readings give us much cause for celebration as well. Our readings from Acts (16:16-34 and 2:1-21) tell stories of the release of Paul and Silas from prison, and […]
May 4 – Easter 3 Acts 9:1-6, (7-20) Psalm 30 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 (UnitingWorld Sunday) The Gospel talks of casting nets, breakfast on a beach and a promise to feed his lambs, tend his sheep and the repeated waves of “Do you love me?” How does the question resonate with you? Might fill […]
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