At Home with the Lectionary

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In this episode, we consider the readings for Advent 1 (Year A in the lectionary cycle): Matthew 24:36-44; Romans 13:11-14; Psalm 122; Isaiah 2:1-5.
We welcome a new liturgical year by discussing the themes of the season of Advent. We discuss this collection of readings, unmistakably woven with a sense of watchful anticipation for the rule and reign of Christ. We look at Jesus' invitation to stay watchful and waiting for His return, Paul's instructions to wake up and love others, the Psalm's hopeful anticipation of Jerusalem's promise, and Isaiah's prophetic words about the nations streaming to the house of the Lord.
Notes:
The Bible Project
--Bible Project's overview of Isaiah
--Bible Project's overview of Romans
Advent Resources:
--Fleming Rutledge's Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ
--Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas
-The Art of Advent: A Painting a Day from Advent to Epiphany, by: Jane Williams
-Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany, by: Malcolm Guite

Our outro music is an original song by our friend Dcn. Jeremiah Webster, a poet and professor whose giftedness is rivaled by his humbleness. You can find his published works, including After So Many Fires, with a quick Google.

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In this episode we discuss the readings for the seventh Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Genesis 45:3-12, 15; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38.
Editorial note from Fr Aaron:
I mention in this podcast that the number of verses in Psalm 37 is different between the Book of Common Prayer’s psalter and most Bible translations. Why? The psalter tends to stick with the “couplet” nature of the psalm when breaking it into verses, presumably because this makes for cleaner corporate reading. But since this psalm is an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet, most Bible translations generally break it into verses according to each successive acrostic letter. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet (my apologies for not being able to recall that when recording this podcast!), so you might think this would result in 44 verses. Alas, some irregularities in the grouping of the acrostic’s letters prevents this sort of unperturbed math/versification. In the end, the result is that most Bibles will show 40 verses for Psalm 37, whereas various psalters will typically show either 41 or 42 verses.
I also mentioned that even the chapter/psalm number of each psalm may vary in some cases! How is that possible? The Vulgate (Latin translation of the OT) and Septuagint (Greek translation of the OT) split or combine several of the psalms, relative to the Hebrew manuscripts—though all add up to a total of 150 psalms ultimately. Most contemporary—and all Protestant—Bibles number the psalms according to the Hebrew manuscripts. But the Vulgate and Septuagint were central for the early Catholic and Orthodox churches, so you may find traces of this different numbering system for the psalms in those traditions.

Other things we discuss in the episode:
ACNA 2019 prayer book and Coverdale Psalter
Boundaries, by: Cloud & Townsend

Our outro music is an original song by our friend Dcn. Jeremiah Webster, a poet and professor whose giftedness is rivaled by his humbleness. You can find his published works, including After So Many Fires, with a quick Google.

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In this episode, we discuss the readings for Palm Sunday (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; Psalm 31:9-16; Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49 (in this podcast we do a reader's theater of the Passion Narrative according to Mark.

We consider various ways to engage during Holy Week, discuss Isaiah 50 with respect to soul care practices of listening to others with one ear and the Lord with the other, and spend a good deal of time reflecting on the gifts of lament, suffering, and grief, in Scripture. We close with a reader's theater version of the Passion Narrative.
Other notes:
-We recommend writer Clarissa Moll as a kind and wise companion in grief and anticipate her forthcoming book Beyond the Darkness.
-Scripts for Reader's Theater versions of the Passion Narrative
Holy Week Resources:
-Fernando Ortega's Album The Crucifixion of Jesus
-The Gospel of John film
-The Gospel of Matthew film
-Seems like there are some newer versions that we haven't yet seen but may be worth a look: The Gospel of Luke and others
-The Chosen miniseries
We'd love to hear from you - send us an email at: <[email protected]>

Our outro music is an original song by our friend Dcn. Jeremiah Webster, a poet and professor whose giftedness is rivaled by his humbleness. You can find his published works, including After So Many Fires, with a quick Google.

Send us a text

In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 14 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 12:32-40; Hebrews 11:1-16; Psalm 50:1-8,23-24; Isaiah 1:1,10-20.
We discuss Jesus' teaching about stewardship, specifically the story of a household waiting expectantly for the master's return. We consider the exemplary heroes in the faith who speak and act as though they are seeking the city God prepares for them. We briefly look at the Psalmist's reminder of God's preeminence as Judge of the earth and pair it with Isaiah's damning proclamation of judgment against injustice clothed in religiosity. Over all, we welcome the Lord's invitation to listen and repent and reflect on His generosity.
Notes:
-Randy Alcorn's book Money, Possessions, and Eternity
-T.S. Eliot reading "Journey of the Magi"
-Excerpt from LMM Montgomery's "Anne of the Island"
-CS Lewis quote: “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” - from "The Weight of Glory" which is worth reading in full.

Our outro music is an original song by our friend Dcn. Jeremiah Webster, a poet and professor whose giftedness is rivaled by his humbleness. You can find his published works, including After So Many Fires, with a quick Google.

Send us a text

In this episode, we consider the readings for Proper 25 (Year C in the lectionary cycle): Luke 18:9-14; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18; Psalm 65; Joel 2:23-32.
In this episode we discuss Jesus' parable that contrasts the prayer of the Pharisee who looks with contempt on others and the prayer of the tax collector who cries out for God's mercy, the final words of Paul that close 2 Timothy, the rich language of abundance in the Psalm, and the imagery of Joel's prophetic words.
Notes:
--C.S. Lewis on Humility: "Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call “humble” nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody.

Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all." --from Mere Christianity

Our outro music is an original song by our friend Dcn. Jeremiah Webster, a poet and professor whose giftedness is rivaled by his humbleness. You can find his published works, including After So Many Fires, with a quick Google.