Lectionary Reading Introduction

This site provides something different: many sites and books provide a brief summary of the reading - so that people read out or have in their pew sheet an outline of what they are about to hear. They are told beforehand what to expect. Does this not limit what they hear the Spirit address them? This site provides something different - often one cannot appreciate what is being read because there is no context provided. This site provides the context, the frame of the reading about to be heard. It could be used as an introduction, printed on a pew sheet (acknowledged, of course), or adapted in other ways. This is an experimental venture and I will see how useful it appears.

Acts 2:14a, 36-41 (RC)

The frame of this reading is last week's celebration. Luke's idealisation of the events continues into the numbers he dramatically presents.

Acts 2:42-47 (RCL)

Luke presents an idealised image of the first Christian community. (Note this is read in the RC Church on Easter 2)

1 Peter 2:19-25

Verse 18 needs to be included in the frame of this text. Slaves are normally listed last (Col 3:18-4:1; 5:22-6:9; 1 Tim 2:8-6:2). Here, interestingly they are mentioned first. This becomes a model for all followers of Jesus in the readers of this text's context.

John 10:1-10

Shepherds in Jesus' culture were viewed as having a low status, and outside of the religious law. Shepherds in this culture go before their flock, calling them. The sharing of a pen amongst a number of families leads to having one person who knew all the shepherds as the gatekeeper. This person might form the gate by sleeping across the gap.