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.
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
The jumping back and forth, in RCL for the continuous Hebrew Bible reading, between Jeremiah and Lamentations over these weeks will do little for those preachers who are convinced of different authors and delight those convinced that these come from the same hand. The first verse of this reading sets the clear frame of this seventh century context.
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
This is the second scroll of the Kings. The Kingdom has divided. Elijah has been taken up into heaven. Elijah is continuing his tradition. Jehoram reigns in the North as king of Israel approximately 850-840BCE.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Since the nineteenth century the authorship of this letter has been disputed. Writing in another’s name was an acceptable part of that culture in a way it is not generally today. Eleven verses are skipped from last week's reading to this week's. It would be helpful to pick up those verses in one's private devotions during the week.
Luke 17:11-19
This week's reading picks up directly from last week's. Jesus' teaching on forgiveness and faith is put into a concrete application in this week's story which leads easily to the other side of this frame - thanksgiving - the eucharist.