Lectionary Guide
This lectionary guide covers Sundays in the months of July to September 2012. These Sundays are part of Year B in Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar.
July 1, 2012; Proper 8 (13)
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27.In this dirge, David mourns the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. The poem ends with a commemoration of Jonathan’s friendship.
Psalm 130.The psalm contains a personal cry for help lifted up to YHWH with the full confidence that God will respond to the psalmist. God’s steadfast love will also be displayed in the communal salvation of Israel.
Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15, 2:23-24 or Lamentations 3:22-33. God’s design of creation was life. The sage of Wisdom of Solomon advises one to choose righteousness for incorruptibility as God originally intended. Death comes to those who join the devil who brought death to the world.
Psalm 30. The psalm praises God for deliverance from illness. The psalmist attributes the reversal of fortunes to God’s intervention.
2 Corinthians 8:7-15. Paul cites the generosity of Christ’s sacrifice for humanity as an example of being willing to give from one’s abundance for the needs of others. Those in need today might be the ones whose abundance might supply our need at a different point in time.
Mark 5:21-43. Jesus is no respecter of person. While on the road to cure the daughter of an influential head of a synagogue, Jesus first heals an outcast woman whose condition has made her poor and ritually unclean.
July 8, 2012: Proper 9 (14)
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10.David becomes the king of Israel, as the northern tribes come over to join the southern tribes. He chooses Jerusalem as the capital of his kingdom.
Psalm 48. The psalm focuses on Jerusalem as the city of God. The nations will be at war with Israel, but God’s victorious intervention keeps the city secure for eternity.
Ezekiel 2:1-5. Ezekiel is commissioned as a prophet who speaks to a rebellious people regardless of their responsiveness. Ezekiel will keep the exiles aware that God has sent a prophet for them.
Psalm 123. The psalm makes a petition to God, who is portrayed as the master on whom one is absolutely dependent.
2 Corinthians 12:2-10. Paul eschews ecstatic spiritual experiences over against the experience of illness and weakness to draw us closer to God and God’s power. When we recognize our weaknesses, God is sure to be closer to us to empower us for the life of faith.
Mark 6:1-13. Even those closest to Jesus fail to recognize his nature and purpose. After Jesus is rejected at home, he sends his disciples away from their homes and away from those who know them, with the hint they may be rejected as well.
July15, 2012: Proper 10 (15)
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19. David has the Ark of God transported to Jerusalem with a great celebration, in which he takes up a priestly role by offering sacrifices.
Psalm 24. The psalm praises God the creator and king, who comes to the place of worship. The psalmist invites the worshipping community to keep themselves worthy of God’s presence in the sanctuary.
Amos 7:7-15. The prophet Amos prophesies the destruction of Israel. When he is urged to seek a safe location for his ministry, he reiterates that his message was based on God’s commission, which he would and will fulfill.
Psalm 85:8-13. The psalm dwells on the ideal world in which God’s instruction is heeded and a just society enjoys well-being.
Ephesians 1:3-14. Paul offers a prayer of thanksgiving blessing to God for all that has been bestowed upon God’s people including spiritual blessings from heaven, adoption as God’s children through Christ, redemption and forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ, an inheritance accomplished through the fulfillment of God’s plan in Christ, and a guarantee that the gospel of salvation that we have received through God’s Spirit is ours eternally.
Mark 6:14-29. Herod’s birthday celebration turns into a macabre feast with the head of John on a serving tray as the main course. This feast of death is a contrast with the feast of life offered by Jesus when he feeds the thousands.
July 22, 2012: Proper 11 (16)
2 Samuel 7:1-14a. David’s proposal to build a house (temple) for God is initially received favorably by Nathan; however, Nathan returns with the message from YHWH that David’s son will build it. Instead, YHWH will raise an eternal house (dynasty) for David.
Psalm 89:20-37. The psalm reiterates that, because of God’s faithfulness, the covenant with David will be eternal in spite of violations his children may commit.
Jeremiah 23:1-6. Using shepherds for images of kings, Jeremiah condemns the Judean kings and delivers God’s promise of a true Davidic king who will rule God’s people justly.
Psalm 23. The psalm portrays God’s care and provision for all of life’s situations.
Ephesians 2:11-22. God, through Christ, has established a new, holy temple, in which both Gentle and Jew are part of one universal community. For this community previous conflicts between Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ have been resolved into a peaceful household of God.
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56. Two different feeding episodes that represent two different communities, one Jewish and the other Gentile, surround the story of the Syrophonecian woman, and expand the idea of who can receive God’s grace
July 29, 2012: Proper 12 (17)
2 Samuel 11:1-15. During the war with the Ammonites, King David, who remained in Jerusalem, commits adultery with Bathsheba and, to cover it up, has Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, killed in a staged battle.
Psalm 14. The psalm warns against the folly of practical atheism, in which the senseless live a corrupt life. By contrast, God’s people seek refuge in YHWH and experience joy.
2 Kings 4:42-44. Elisha performs a miracle of abundance and feeds the people struck by famine.
Psalm 145:10-18. The psalm extols the reign of God the king, who showers goodness on all and cares for the weak.
Ephesians 3:14-21. A doxology and prayer ends the first half of Ephesians. The author prays for the community’s strength, faith, and love, all of which are available because of the power of God’s Spirit. To know Christ is to know his love and to understand the glory of God that is already in the church.
John 6:1-21. The feeding is a messianic sign of the kingdom of God. Jesus is revealed as the “true bread,” as his pronouncement in the next passage “It’s me” or “I am” (egw eimi) reveals God’s continuing presence as it did in Exodus 3:14.
August 5, 2012: Proper 13 (18)
2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a. YHWH sends Nathan to condemn David’s sins, and David acknowledges his guilt. David’s life is spared, but the child with whom Bathsheba is pregnant will die.
Psalm 51:1-12. The psalmist expresses a profound sense of guilt and petitions God’s cleansing and restoration for the joy of salvation. Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15. For the people of Israel complaining over hunger in the wilderness, YHWH provides food from heaven.
Psalm 78:23-29. The passage describes how God provided the people of Israel in the wilderness with manna and birds for food.
Ephesians 4:1-16. The unity of the church is exercised through a variety of gifts that together prepare everyone in the community for mutual service and growth in Christ-like maturity and love.
John 6:24-35. Signs do not come from individuals (Moses), but from God. In the reception of manna and the feeding of the multitude, God is the source. Jesus commences a series of “ego eimi” statements with “I am the bread of life,” each revealing the eternal nature of God and the coming kingdom.
August12, 2012: Proper 14 (19)
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33. Absalom, David’s son who revolted against him, was killed in the clash between the two armies, and David bitterly mourns his son’s death.
Psalm 130. The psalm contains a personal cry for help lifted up toYHWH with the full confidence that God will respond to the psalmist. God’s steadfast love will be displayed in the communal salvation of Israel.
1 Kings 19:4-8. Elijah journeys to Horeb, the mountain of God, using the strength given him by an angel.
Psalm 34:1-8. The psalm praises YHWH, who gave deliverance. The psalmist urges one to “taste” God’s goodness. The expression suggests that God’s goodness is something which one can relish.
Ephesians 4:25-5:2. Practical exhortations include speaking truth not falsehood, not letting anger become sinful by lingering on it, and letting honest work be the source of giving to the poor. Talk that builds up fellow believers rather than grieves God’s Spirit should characterize those that imitate God.
John 6:24-35. Signs do not come from individuals (Moses), but from God. In the reception of manna and the feeding of the multitude, God is the source. Jesus commences a series of “ego eimi” statements with “I am the bread of life,” each revealing the eternal nature of God and the coming kingdom.
August, 19, 2012: Proper 15 (20)
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14. Solomon succeeds David. When God asks what the new king wants to be granted, Solomon asks for an understanding mind (literally, a listening heart).
Psalm 111. The psalm puts together various rounds of praise. The disconnected appearance of verses has to do with the acrostic design of the poem, each line of which begins with one of the alphabet letters of Hebrew.
Proverbs 9:1-6. This passage describes the feast that the personification of Wisdom holds at her house to offer a way to shed petty follies and gain understanding.
Psalm 34:9-14. The psalm recommends the fear of God as a path to life. One who fears the Lord is aware of what he or she utters.
Ephesians 5:15-20. Two options are presented in this text: foolishness, such as drunkenness, and wisdom, which includes using time wisely, being filled with God’s Spirit and giving thanks to God for Christ in praise and song
John 6:51-58. Like Nicodemus who could not understand how to be literally born again, members of Jesus’ audience wonders how they can eat of his flesh. Like the bread Jesus offers, the communion wafer represents both spiritual and physical reality, the needful physical and the hopeful spiritual.
August 26, 2012: Proper 16 (21)
1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43. Solomon dedicates the temple he has built as a place where God’s name dwells. He prays that the temple becomes the medium of God’s presence on earth, so that the prayers of the people and foreigners may reach God.
Psalm 84. The psalm contemplates the wonder of the sense of divine presence one may experience in the temple.
Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18. In a convocation assembled at Shechem, Joshua challenges the people gathered there to turn away from other gods and serve YHWH only. The people reply with a commitment to the covenant they enter with God.
Psalm 34:15-22. The psalm warns against evil that leads to divine punishment. By contrast, YHWH is on the side of the brokenhearted.
Ephesians 6:10-20. The military imagery of protection against evil spiritual forces calls for the believer to hold fast to truth, justice, and the steadfast proclamation of the gospel, as well as faith, eschatological salvation, and the presence of God’s Spirit. Prayer, both for believers in general as well as for Paul, God’s imprisoned ambassador, permeates this posture.
John 6:56-69. Jesus reveals that he is not referring to just any flesh but that of the Son of Man, who “is the vehicle of the Holy Spirit and the mouthpiece of the word of God” (Barrett, 302).
September 2, 2012: Proper 17 (22)
Song of Solomon 2:8-13. In this love poem, the woman wants to run away with her lover in the spring season.
Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9. The psalm is commonly known as a royal wedding poem. Righteousness is lifted up as a royal virtue that complements other festive fragrances.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9. Moses underscores the importance of faithful adherence to YHWH’s laws. Failure to do so would result in the kind of disaster they experienced at Baal-peor. Fidelity will give Israel the fame of a great nation.
Psalm 15. The psalm extols a life that is lived with consistent integrity.
James 1:17-27. The passage includes four interrelated exhortations–God’s gift of the gospel, the need to be slow to anger, a doer of God’s word, and servant to those in need.
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23. A person can hold to only one authority and will let go of the other: either human regulation, such as the tradition of the elders (the oral tradition) or the word of God (written Torah). If Torah is written on one’s heart, one need not fear what or how one eats.
September 9, 2012: Proper 18 (23)
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23. Before YHWH, rich and poor alike are God’s creatures. The sage promotes justice and generosity for the poor, for whom God is the defender.
Psalm 125. The psalm begins with the blessing of stability for the faithful, and counsels doing good.
Isaiah 35:4-7a. The prophet looks forward to a time when all human infirmities are healed, and nature will also witness renewal.
Psalm 146. Starting to conclude the book of Psalms, this psalm praises YHWH who delivers God’s people from all situations of bondage. The psalm ends with a note on God’s eternal reign.
James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17. Faith in Jesus Christ must be demonstrated through attention to the poor and not partiality toward the rich. In this way, the whole law of God is fulfilled and our faith is alive with works, not dead with mere mental assertions.
Mark 7:24-37. The Syrophonecian woman accepts the crumbs of the bread intended for the tekna (children of Israel), a reminder of the crumbs that remained after Jesus fed the 5,000, and of God’s excessive grace.
September 14, 2012 (Holy Cross)
Numbers 21:4b-9. In the wilderness, Israelites complain of lack of bread and water in spite of the availability of manna. YHWH punishes them with fiery serpents, and when Israel cries in repentance, YHWH has Moses set up a copper serpent as a means of healing.
Psalm 98:1-5 or Psalm 78:1-2, 34-38. Psalm 98 praises YHWH’s victory against the powers of chaos and rules the world with justice. Psalm 78 dwells on God’s mercy that is not frustrated by human failures.
1 Corinthians 1: 18-24.The idea of a crucified Messiah is scandalous and foolishness to Jew and Gentile alike. Yet the cross represents the ultimate example of God’s wisdom and power.
John 3:13-17. As Moses lifted up the snake to cure those who were sick to death with venom, so God will lift up his only son as a cure for whomever (Jew or Gentile) is mortally ill in order to be made whole with God forever.
September 16, 2012: Proper 19 (24)
Proverbs 1:20-33. The passage calls attention to the personified Wisdom, who in public places urges the people to welcome her and receive the protection from destructive calamities.
Psalm 19 or Wisdom of Solomon 7:26-8:1. Psalm 19 juxtaposes the wonder of God’s creation with the life-giving power of God’s word. In Wisdom 7, the sage dwells on Wisdom’s many desirable qualities.
Isaiah 50:4-9a. The prophet describes the insight and courage that come from enduring difficult times through faith.
Psalm 116:1-9. The psalmist gives thanks to God who answers prayers in accordance with divine grace. The gift of life enables people to trust God in the midst of adversities.
James 3: 1-12. James warns all to bridle the tongue, which can set off all kinds of trouble. Teachers especially must be careful how and what they speak.
Mark 8:27-38. Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, but cannot understand his messianic nature. He has heard of a messianic king who will restore Israel, and is horrified when he hears Jesus speaks of a heavenly Messiah who will be glorified only after death.
September 23, 2012: Proper 20 (25)
Proverbs 31:10-31. The extended song praises “a capable wife” (NRSV; cf. literally, “the woman of strength”) for her diligence, gifts, and virtues.
Psalm 1. The psalm contrasts the blessing of those who cherish YHWH’s teaching with the doom of those who pursue evil.
Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22 or Jeremiah 11:18-20.The sage of Wisdom of Solomon describes how the godly plot violence against the righteous because they deny God’s purpose and doubt God’s protection of the godly. Jeremiah laments over the suffering that he had to endure as he was faithfully seeking to deliver God’s message.
Psalm 54. The psalmist petitions urgently for God’s deliverance and vows to bring a freewill offering for thanksgiving.
James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8a. Wisdom and the lack of it are described in terms of virtues and vices. Wisdom from above exhibits peace, gentleness, mercy, and general good fruits. Wisdom not from above evokes envy, selfishness, disorder, and general wickedness. Conflict and division emerge from the latter, closeness to God from the former.
Mark 9:30-37. In the Roman world the one who sits to the right of power and authority has the greatest honor. Jesus reverses that order, with the greatest honor given to the one who serves at table (diakonos), and to the one who receives a child (who has neither power nor authority).
September 30, 2012: Proper 21 (26)
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22. Through courageous action, Esther exposes Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jewish people. Subsequent deliverance becomes the basis of a festive occasion sharing gifts with one another and with the poor. The feast is later known as Purim.
Psalm 124. The psalm celebrates YHWH’s deliverance of the people from enemies, when they were in otherwise hopeless situations.
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29. Certain elements among the people stir up cravings for the food that they had in Egypt. To deal with the people’s complaints, YHWH has Moses assemble seventy elders. They were given Moses’ spirit, and surprisingly, two others who did not come to the Tent received it as well.
Psalm 19:7-14. This latter half of the psalm reflects on the benefits derived from YHWH’s teaching.
James 5:13-20. The Letter of James concludes with an exhortation to prayer, with elders leading prayers for the sick and the suffering. Mutual confession of sin is also extolled as is working to bring apostates back to the fold.
Mark 9:38-50. The disciples report on healers casting out demons who are not “our” followers, which suggests that the disciples have formed a healing monopoly that determines who can use the Jesus brand name.
