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.
Genesis 29:15-28
Jacob has fled from his older brother Esau whom he had tricked and then deceived into giving him his birthright and receiving his father's blessing. He arrives at his uncle Laban's at Paddan-aram.
1 Kings 3:5-12
King David has died, and his son, Solomon, has begun to reign at the start of this chapter. Solomon has made a marriage alliance with Egypt by marrying the pharaoh's daughter. This is prior to the Deuteronomic reform, and "high places" continue alongside Solomon's hoped for Jerusalem central shrine, the temple.
Romans 8:26-39
This week continues where we left off last week in the life in Christ for believers. The sure hope is worked out our current prayer life and our conviction that all will lead to the best: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." (Dame Julian of Norwich - 14th century mystic).
First fruits were seen to be a promise of the harvest to come. Ancient Mediterranean cultures were very conscious of their impotence before nature and within the Hebrew tradition could subscribe that to Adam.
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
We have heard Jesus' stories so often we can miss their surprise and punch-line. Who has the right to what is found? What do you live off if you sell everything you have? What will be the reaction of your village when you suddenly "find" a treasure in the new field you have just bought?
Today's readings online