Divergence on the Lectionary – Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C
First Reading Micah 5:2–5a (The remainder of verse 5 in italics) But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Third Sunday of Advent, Year C
First Reading Zephaniah 3:14–20 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Second Sunday of Advent, Year C
First Reading Baruch 5:1-9 Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem,and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God;put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting;for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven.For God […]
Divergence on the Lectionary, 1 Advent, Year C
First Reading Jeremiah 33:14–16 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B
First Reading 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16 (omitted verses in italics) Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – 4 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 – 3 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, […]
“O come, O come Emmanuel!”
(I wrote this back in 2015 for the Cross, the publication for the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. I think most of it still applies.) Most of us have sung this already this season. If we haven’t we certainly will soon. It is the cry of every heart, even those who don’t know God, (though they […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – 1 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 […]
