Lectionary Guides Archive
I create a visual guide to the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary every week on THIS PAGE. Below are the archives of the posts, listed newest to oldest.
A New Year With Mark | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries on January 7, 2023
Happy New Year! This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for January 7, 2024. This is the beginning of Epiphany. It is the season where Jesus steps into the public light and begins his ministry of preaching and healing. The RCL looks at John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism in Mark 1. The NL continues a journey through Mark in chapter 2 with a dramatic healing story, calling a tax collector, and new wineskins.
Where is Christmas?! | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries on December 31, 2023
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for December 31, 2023. This is the Second Sunday of Christmas. The RCL looks at Jesus in the temple at the end of Luke 2. The NL begins a journey through Mark. Guess what, no Christmas in Mark!?!
Love and Nativity | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries on December 24, 2023
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for December 24, 2023. This is the fourth week of Advent AND Christmas Eve.
Joy and Tears | Advent 3 | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries on December 17, 2023
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for December 17, 2023. This is the third week of Advent. We light the candle of JOY. The RCL takes us to Isaiah, Psalms, 1 Thessalonians, and John to offer texts that explore the mixture of tears and joy. The NL takes us to Ezra were we see the restoration of the temple after the Exile and another mixture of joy and tears.
Advent 2 | A Voice Crying | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries on December 10, 2023
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for December 10, 2023. This is the second week of Advent. We light the candle of PEACE. This is also a rare convergence where both lectionaries have the same OT reading and Gospel text. This week we connect Isaiah 40 to the ministry of John the Baptist in the Gospel of Mark.
Advent 1 | Hope | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries on December 3, 2023
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for December 3, 2023. This is the first week of Advent. We light the candle of HOPE. The RCL takes us to Isaiah, Psalms, 1 Corinthians, and Mark to offer texts of waiting and watching for the coming Messiah. The NL takes us to Jeremiah were we see another depiction of the Messiah as a shoot of Jesse emerging from the stump of Judah.
Who is Christ the King? | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries on November 26, 2023
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for November 26, 2023. This is Christ the King Sunday, or The Reign of Christ Sunday. The RCL offers visions of the Messiah from Ezekiel 34 and Ephesians 1. The Gospel is Matthew 25:31-46. This scene of the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God concludes the Eschatological Discourse. The NL jumps to the story of Josiah in 2 Kings. He is an image of a good king in Judah. The Gospel reading is Luke 24:30-32 where Jesus eats with the disciples in Emmaus.
Servants of the Vineyard | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries on November 19, 2023
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for November 19, 2023. The RCL jumps to Judges and the story of Deborah for the first reading. The second reading is Zephaniah 1. The third reading marks the fifth week in 1 Thessalonians. The Gospel is Matthew 25:14-30. This is the parable of the talents that is part of the Eschatological Discourse. The NL jumps to the words of Isaiah 5 and 11 where Israel is compared to a vineyard that must be severely pruned. The Gospel reading is Mark 12:1-3 where Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants. I titled this Servants of the Vineyard because both lectionaries are dealing with the reckoning that must come when leaders misuse the gifts God has given them.
The Heart of God | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries for November 12, 2023
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for November 12, 2023. The RCL jumps to the end of Joshua for the first reading. The second reading is Amos 5. The third reading marks the fourth week in 1 Thessalonians. The Gospel is Matthew 25:1-13. This is the parable of the ten bridesmaids that is part of the Eschatological Discourse. The NL jumps to the words of Hosea 11:1-9. The Gospel reading is Mark 10:13-14 where Jesus welcomes the children to him. All of these passages are tough to read because they bring the balance of the suffering that comes when we don’t live in the love of God with the grace and forgiveness of the heart of God.
