Visual Resources for the Lectionaries

This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for June 28, 2026. Use this chart for quick links to the texts and the resource pages on cartoonistbible.com.

Proper 8

CLICK HERE to jump to the Narrative Lectionary Resources

Revised Common Lectionary Resources

Gospel Reading – Matthew 10:40-42

This image is from page 7 in A Cartoonist’s Guide to Matthew

Food for Thought

The readings are rough this week. I struggle to bring them all together, so allow me to offer a quick response to each reading.

We continue the series on Genesis in Option 1. Read my commentary on the Sacrifice of Isaac here.

Jeremiah 28 needs some context. The bottom line is that Hananiah is a false prophet. He is trying to convince Zedekiah that the people that had been taken by the Babylonians into exile will not be there long. Hananiah wants Zedekiah to fight the Babylonians. This is not the message God gave to Jeremiah. Hananiah’s false prophecy is what prompted the famous letter Jeremiah wrote to the exiles in chapter 29 in which he tells them that they will be in exile for 70 years. I think this passage was chosen to pair with the Gospel reading because it has to do with discerning prophets. Not all those who come in the name of the LORD are speaking the words of the LORD. We need discernment.

Let’s jump to the Gospel, in light of the last comment. We conclude our mini-series on the Mission Discourse where Jesus sends the twelve to the cities of Israel. He has already warned them that many will reject them and some will seek to harm them. He gives them a simple test to see who is proclaiming the message of the LORD: whoever gives a cup of cold water to the “little ones” or “the least of these” is one who speaks the words of God.

There is our test of the Gospel. If a message seeks to exalt one group over another, or make it seem like God privileges the rich and powerful over the poor and weak, then that message is not of God.

This helps us tie into the reading from Romans. Paul argued at the beginning of chapter 6 that we have been buried with Christ in our baptism and set free from sin and death. We must not misunderstand our freedom, however. We have not been set free to serve our self, or to pursue self-indulgence. No, we have been set free to serve our neighbor, especially the “least of these.” Paul uses a harsh metaphor. We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness. Our freedom is not the radical independence of the modern, rational ideal. Our freedom is the recognition that we are connected to everyone in interdependence. We must serve our neighbor in order to bring the Gospel to all. Read my Declaration of Interdependence here.

Narrative Lectionary Resources

Esther 4:1-17

Food for Thought

The Narrative lectionary jumps from Ruth to Esther this week. We will spend only two weeks here. I invite you to read Kathryn Schifferdecker’s commentary here.

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