Narrative Lectionary

Church of the Beatitudes dome
Commentary on Matthew 5:1-20

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”  The word translated [...]

Canteen on dry rockbed
Commentary on Matthew 4:1-17

In Matthew, Jesus lives in three different places—Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth—by the time he’s a [...]

Baptism of Jesus
Commentary on Matthew 3:1-17

Matthew’s genealogy (1:1-17) shows Jesus can be linked to David the king and Abraham the [...]

tree roots extending across the ground
Commentary on Matthew 1:1-17

Perhaps few of us will get excited about reading, teaching, or preaching a genealogy. But [...]

The birth of Jesus with shepherds
Commentary on Luke 2:8-20

As with the story of Jesus being born in a barn (see the commentary on [...]

You will find a child
Commentary on Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]

Many of us adorn our homes and churches with beloved [...]

Annunciation to St. Joseph
Commentary on Matthew 1:18-25

Any New Testament text, including this one, comes from a time, place, culture, and language [...]

lighthouse shining against deep blue sky
Commentary on Isaiah 42:1-9

Today’s lection is one of the four “Servant Songs” in Isaiah. The church has nearly [...]

gateway in ancient city of Susa
Commentary on Esther 4:1-17

One temptation when preaching on this passage is to turn it into a hero story. [...]

Shop worker grinding down sword
Commentary on Isaiah 36:1-3, 13-20; 37:1-7; then 2:1-4

The narrative account in Isaiah [...]