Lent 4, Cycle A
THEME OF THE DAY Seeing the light! Historically this Sunday in Lent was called Laetare (Rejoicing Sunday), a time to relieve the austerities of Lent with a mood of celebration. Consequently, although the themes of Sin and Repentance are evident in the texts, the focus is on hope (Realized Eschatology), complimenting Providence as well as [...]
Lent 3, Cycle A
THEME OF THE DAY Confess your sin and turn around! God will see to it. This theme meshes with the historic purpose of the Third Sunday in Lent, at which time the ancient church candidates for baptism on Easter were given careful scrutiny. Once again Sin, Justification by Grace, and Sanctification receive a lot of [...]
Lent 2, Cycle A
THEME OF THE DAY Hanging around the Lord changes you. This theme meshes with the historic purpose of the Second Sunday in Lent, aiming to call candidates for baptism on Easter to practice purity. The themes of Sin, Justification by Grace, Predestination, and Sanctification are crucial to the assigned texts. Psalm 121 This is a [...]
Lent 1, Cycle A
THEME OF THE DAY The focus on Original Sin again makes us sense our own unworthiness and need for God’s forgiving grace (Justification by Grace). In some of the texts the consequences of this grace for daily life are also considered (Sanctification). These emphases emerge from the tradition of commemorating the First Sunday in Lent [...]
Ash Wednesday, Cycle A
THEME OF THE DAY Sorrow for sin and the way out. The occasion for the day and its assigned lessons serve to stimulate our awareness of sin as well as the need for repentance (its urgency, which relates to Sanctification and Realized Eschatology) and God’s forgiveness (Justification by Grace). Psalm 51:1-17 A lament Psalm for [...]
