January 16, 2022
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
January 9, 2022
Baptism of the Lord
Sunday’s lectionary readings in three formats:
The commentary comes from the Montreal Diocese:
December 5, 2021
Second Sunday of Advent
Last Sunday’s lection began in Jeremiah where the prophet confirmed that God would make good his promise of salvation for his people. This Sunday’s lection continues the theme and introduces the celebration of that time and the theme of righteousness as a component.
Baruch, writing at the time of Jeremiah, leads his audience to celebrate the future condition of God’s people due to his grace and mercy: “For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with mercy and righteousness that come from him.”
About 600 years later, the gospel writer Luke chronicles the song of Zechariah the father of John, suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit, extolling God. “‘Praise be to the Lord,'” he chants, “who will ‘… enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.'” The celebration of the end of history had begun!
Paul celebrates the NT church at Philippi for their great love. He prays for the depth of their love, that it may grow towards that day–the Day of the Lord– when they will be given “the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” Through the creative work of God within them, they will stand, as Baruch’s audience would, “pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
In the final scripture of the day, we begin the feet on the ground journey to the Day of the Lord. Luke describes the political context in Rome and the religious context of the Jews in Rome. Then he introduces John the Baptist prophesying about that great Day, crying in the wilderness and calling for repentance as a precursor to righteousness. “‘Prepare the way for the Lord . . . ‘”, he preaches, when “‘ . . . all people will see God’s salvation.'”
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We won’t meet as a group for this study. Please plan to go to the fellowship hall at 10:00 to make Advent wreaths. Call Jaquelin if you plan to go so that she can have enough materials available.
Sunday’s full lection in 3 different formats:
Commentary from the Montreal Diocese Commentary
The Baruch scripture is in the service bulletin for Sunday 2021 December5 BulletinAdvent2
November 28, 2021
First Sunday of Advent
Sunday’s lection is difficult. My synopsis is below, but please look at the commentaries you have and the short commentary from the Montreal Diocese posted below. We’ll discuss the day’s reading as a whole, instead of taking just one passage.
The Jeremiah scripture opens a discussion of end times, which is a theme of the whole lectionary reading for the day. “The days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.”
The Psalmist looks ahead, also, applying God’s commitment personally, believing himself to be a part of that rich future in the hands of God. Vs. 1 “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.”
In the New Testament reading, Paul commends the Thessalonians about the faith of their church, the love they have for one another. He ends with a prayer implying that their faithfulness and love will be their lasting tie with God: “May [the Lord] strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when the Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”
Luke changes the nature of the philosophical discussion by recounting Jesus’s description of what these times might look like as they happen in the physical world. He admonishes his disciples to be aware of the physical signs of the times.
St. Thomas Bible Study 