Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 9, Year C
First Reading 2 Kings 5:1–14 (track one) Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 8, Year C
First Reading 2 Kings 2:1–2, 6-14 omitted verses in italics (track 1) Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 7, Year C
(All Divergences will include both Tracks One and Two going forward.) First Reading (Track One) 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Trinity Sunday, Year C
First Reading Proverbs 8:1–4, 22-31 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – The Feast of Pentecost, Year C
First Reading Genesis 11:1–9 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year C
First Reading Acts 16:16–34 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C
When I first realized that I was about to complete three years of Divergences, I decided that the next time through the three years of the Lectionary, I would add a section to each one called “so what?” I’d try to take the often rather academic approach in a lot of the Divergences and bring […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fifth Sunday of Easter – Year C
First Reading Acts 11:1–18 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began and explained it to them […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C
First Reading Acts 9:36–43 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Third Sunday of Easter, Year C
First Reading Acts 9:1–6 (7-20) But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as […]
Divergence on the Lectionary, Second Sunday of Easter, Year C
First Reading Acts 5:27–32 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Easter Sunday, Year C (Principal Service)
First Reading Acts 10:34–43 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Passion Sunday, Year C
Because the Passion Narrative for this Sunday is so long, I’m putting a link here so that you can click straight to the Comments and Questions for Discussion if you’d rather do that than scroll and scroll (and scroll). (Click Here for Comments and Questions.) First Reading Isaiah 50:4–9a The Lord GOD has given me […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year C
First Reading Isaiah 43:16–21 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year C
First Lesson Joshua 5:9–12 (earlier verses added for context) As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel […]
Divergence on the Lectionary, Third Sunday in Lent, Year C
First Reading Exodus 3:1–15 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the […]
