Divergence on the Lectionary – Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A
First Reading Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b–12) “Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A
First Reading Micah 6:1–8 Hear what the LORD says: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the LORD has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel. “O my […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A
First Reading Isaiah 9:1–4 (5-7 added in italics for context) But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land […]
Healing as Resistance
The way that things are evolving in the United States these days, I find myself asking, “Why do you spend so much time and effort trying to encourage people to take up healing ministry when there are much more urgent issues to be addressed?” It’s a valid question. The country is sliding into authoritarianism. Democracy […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A
First Reading Isaiah 49:1–7 Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – The First Sunday after the Epiphany
The Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, Year A First Reading Isaiah 42:1–9 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Second Sunday after Christmas, All Years
First Reading Jeremiah 31:7–14 For thus says the LORD: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – First Sunday after Christmas, All Years
First Reading Isaiah 61:10-62:3 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – The Feast of the Nativity III
First Reading Isaiah 52:7–10 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – The Feast of the Nativity II
First Reading Isaiah 62:6–12 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth. The LORD has […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – The Feast of the Nativity I
First Reading Isaiah 9:2–7 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – The Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A
First Reading Isaiah 7:10–16 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Third Sunday of Advent, Year A
First Reading Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – The Second Sunday of Advent, Year A
First Reading Isaiah 11:1–10 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – The First Sunday of Advent, Year A
First Reading Isaiah 2:1–5 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 29/Christ the King, Year C
First Reading Jeremiah 23:1–6 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, […]
