Lectionary readings for January

Lectionary Readings for January 2025 by Buddy Kirwan

 

New Year’s Day – January 1, 2025

A NEW SEASON

Readings:      Ecclesiastes 3:1-13       Psalm 8                      Revelation 21:1-6a     Matthew 25:31-46

As we enter this new year of 2025, we reflect on the wonderful passages of God’s Word in today’s lectionary. Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that life is a season/seasons of a whole plethora of experiences, some exhilarating, some crushing. We are then reminded by the Psalmist (Ps 8) that our God is sovereign over all things including the various seasons of our lives. I particularly enjoy the traditional choral version of Psalm 8:1: ‘O Lord our Governor how excellent is thy Name in all the earth’ (see also a most helpful reference to Psalm 8 in, ‘Sermons of John Wesley sermon 1’). Some of us will have experienced many of life’s seasons in just one year, maybe even the one gone by. Surely this is reason enough that we should regularly pray for one another. As we do so, we reflect on the great words of future-promises regarding our Sovereign God: “the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God…he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away” Revelation 21:3. As Jesus-followers we enter this new season/s of 2025, carrying with us these  wonderful words of promise from our Sovereign God and Saviour: “…the king will say to those at his right hand, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” Matthew 25:34

 

Second Sunday of Christmas (Epiphany Readings) – January 5, 2025

THANKFUL GENTILES

Readings:     Isaiah 60:1-6                  Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14               Ephesians 3:1-12             Matthew 2:1-12

Even though it may seem that Christmas is now over, our lectionary and church calendar, thankfully refuses to ‘let it go’. During the season of Epiphany we are reminded of the manifestation of Messiah to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi- also known as the Three kings or the Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12). Incredibly, this event was referred to by the prophet Isaiah, approximately seven hundred years earlier: “Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn…  the wealth of the nations shall come to you” Vv.3, 5. In a day when the church and the message of God’s Word may seem to be pushed to the margins of society, it is good for us to be reminded by the Psalmist that all will be well. This word from Psalm 72 assures us that he who: “has pity on the weak and the needy” is also the One to whom “all kings (will) fall down before him, all nations give him service” Vv.13, 11. As a Gentile, I rejoice with Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, as he reminded them and us, that God’s loving salvation was made known and available to all: “In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, has now been revealed to… the gentiles (who) have become … sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” 3:5-6. Today’s Collect: ‘O God, who by the leading of a star, manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord’.

First Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 12, 2025

GOING THROUGH THE WATERS

Readings:        Isaiah 43:1-7                Psalm 29                    Acts 8:14-17            Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Our gospel reading for today in Luke chapter 3, transports us from last week’s account of the Magi’s arrival at Bethlehem, to today’s account of Jesus’ baptism. In this passage we see a very human trait manifested by the people; so impressed were they by John the Baptiser that they began to believe that he was Messiah. Unfortunately, many of us today are too attracted to such popularity and fail to genuinely point people away from ourselves. Thankfully, the baptiser humbled himself and pointed people in the proper direction: “one (Jesus) who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals” v.16. Humility abounded that day when Jesus himself requested that John baptise him. Following his baptism, a heavenly voice was heard: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased” v.22. In addition to the many significant elements of this event, we also see Jesus passing through the waters (Isaiah 43:2) ahead of us; see also Hebrews 4:14-15. Notice in Isaiah 43, how God promised his people that he would be with them: “When you pass through the waters”. In Jesus’ baptism, we have a symbolic element of that very promise. In Psalm 27, we are invited to join with the heavenly host as they “ascribe glory to the LORD… whose voice is over the waters Vv. 2-3. This LORD who “sits enthroned over the flood… enthroned as King forever… gives strength to his people… and blesses his people with peace” Vv.10-11. Following Philip’s ministry of evangelism in Samaria, Peter and John were sent from Jerusalem as instruments of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). This unique (non-Jewish) situation presented the apostles with a situation that only God the Holy Spirit himself could bless. These Samaritans had believed on Jesus and gone through the waters of baptism; but now God had ordained that they could, in the words of John the Baptiser, be: “baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire” Luke 3:16b.  A prayer: God, your voice moves over the waters. Immerse us in your grace, mark us with your images, and raise us to live as your followers empowered by the Holy Spirit and the example of Christ our Lord, Amen!

 

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 19, 2025

BRIDE AND GROOM

Readings:        Isaiah 62:1-5              Psalm 36:5-10             1 Corinthians 12:1-11             John 2:1-11     

Our lectionary readings for today are full of joy and hope, and encouragement for both the individual believer and the church, the Body of Christ. In Isaiah 62:1 we read that Yahweh’s desire is toward Zion and Jerusalem. He desires for her vindication to be witnessed by “the nations… and all the kings” v.2. God’s passionate love for Israel is expressed thus: “Yahweh delights in you… your builder (shall) marry you” Vv.4-5a. Our passage concludes with words that every Jesus-follower and church community should hide in their hearts and declare on a regular basis: “as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” v.5. We again encounter this marriage and wedding theme in our gospel account of the ‘wedding at Cana’. In John 2:1-3 we read that on the third day (two days after Jesus’ encounter with Nathaniel; but for Jesus -followers, any mention of a third day, grabs our attention) Jesus and his disciples were guests at this wedding. They ran-out of wine. In a spiritual sense, God’s people had also run out of wine and Messiah was present to reverse their poverty-stricken state. We should not forget that here is also recorded Messiah’s first sign of his Divinity. The ‘house of God’ would soon be revitalised by the new wine of the Spirit. The Psalmist reminds us that we may now “feast on the abundance of God’s House” Psalm 36:8. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul tells us that God’s House, the Body of Christ is built with individual Christians who have been gifted with a variety of gifts from the same Spirit; this is some of the new wine of the Spirit. A prayer: O God of steadfast love, at the wedding in Cana your Son Jesus turned water into wine, delighting all who were there. Transform our hearts by your Spirit, that we may use our varied gifts to show forth the light of your love as one body in Christ. Amen.

 

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 26, 2025

THE SWEETNESS OF TORAH

Readings:        Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10     Psalm 19         1 Corinthians 12:12-31a         Luke 4:14-21

As we reflect today on the centrality of God’s Word and the role of Christ’s Body in its proclamation, I am reminded of some words that were included in last week’s passage from John chapter 2:5: “Do whatever he tells you.” Following his period of temptations in the wilderness, Jesus attended a Sabbath Service in his hometown of Nazareth. During the service he read from Isaiah 61 & 48. Now this would have been unexceptional but for Jesus’ additional words in Luke 4:21: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus himself was proclaiming Good News to the poor and release to the captives (exiles). In his application to the passage from Isaiah, Jesus claimed to be both the Law and the fulfilment of the Law, prophet and deliverer. Is it any wonder that God’s ancient people “wept when they heard the words of the Law”? Nehemiah 8:9. Ezra showed the people the importance of listening to God’s word. Reading and understanding Scripture brings joy and strength. Of course, we on this side of Messiah’s life, death, resurrection, ascension and session, have a fuller picture of the Law and its fulfilment. The Law of God is beautifully described in many ways in Psalm 19. Some of these descriptions include: “perfect; sure, bringing wisdom; right; bringing joy to the heart; clear; enlightening…” Vv. 7-8. In v. 10 we have a most wondrous statement about God’s teachings: “More to be desired are they than gold… sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” The Church and we as individual members (1 Corinthians 12:27) have been commissioned with a task somewhat similar to that of Messiah in Luke 4. May the Head of the Church help us in this great calling. A prayer:  In you, O Lord our God, we find our joy, for through your law and your prophets you formed a people in mercy and freedom, in justice and righteousness. Pour your Spirit on us today, that we who are Christ’s body may bear the good news of your ancient promises to all who seek you. Amen.