The Sunday Next Before Easter

This Sunday is Pentecost or "Whitsunday" as it is known in the English tradition and in the Book of Common Prayer. There are lots of proper readings for this week. The Communion Propers are Acts 2:1-11 and St. John 14:15-31. There are also proper Psalms and a proper First and Second Lesson for Morning and Evening Prayer. The BCP ties in diverse themes to show how Pentecost is an eschatological event where the Spirit makes God's dwelling place in man once again, but this time through the conversion of His people. Pentecost also brings in the nations, as the kingdom of the Messiah expands beyond Israel to the ends of the earth.

This week falls in between the Ascension and Whitsunday. The Collect ties both days together, and the readings focus on how the Holy Spirit equips us for the coming conflict of evangelism and spiritual warfare. The Epistle reading is 1 Peter 4:7:11, instructing us on to live in charity even in the face of divine judgment. The Gospel reading is St. John 15:24-16:4, where Jesus explains that the Holy Spirit will enable us to persevere and bear witness, even in the face of persecution. The Old Testament lessons are Deut. 12 and 13, two lessons about fighting false worship and false prophets during the conquest.

This week is Rogation Sunday. Traditionally based on the new planting season, Rogation is when Anglicans ask God's blessing upon the material goods and produce of the new year. It's also a time for reflecting on economic justice and charitable giving. The readings for this week focus on prayer and the right way to use the gifts God gives. The Epistle is James 1:22-27, the Gospel is St. John 16:23-33, and the Old Testament readings are Deuteronomy 8 and 9.

On today's episode we look at the relationship between Christ's departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Epistle reading from James 1 teaches that God gives gifts from His own nature and these gifts allow us to bring our unruly passions under an orderly control. The Gospel reading is John 16:5-15, and it teaches us that the Holy Spirit takes the place of Christ in our hearts and leads us into truth. The Old Testament readings continue the series through the law in Deuteronomy, showing how God gives His law to help us avoid passion, temptation, and sin, and they show how God's law will bring blessing. But they also raise interesting questions about how Christians can ever hope to keep the law.

For this next week in Easter the readings move to the life of suffering that comes with following Christ but also the victorious promise that Jesus gives to gospel ministry. The Epistle comes from 1 Peter 2 and teaches us about suffering for righteousness' sake. The Gospel reading from John 10:11-16 is the famous "Good Shepherd" passage. Christ teaches the difference between hirelings and true shepherds, and He promises to be our Good Shepherd, to fight and even die for us. He also promises that we will hear His voice and be known by Him. The Old Testament readings come from Numbers 23-24 and Numbers 25. These continue the story of Balaam and then add the sin at Baal-Peor. Listen to this episode to see why these passages were chosen and how they relate to the Gospel.

Happy Easter! This week is the First Sunday after Easter. The Scripture readings move into a new theme, as the focus is on the new life we have in Christ and the mission of the Church. The Epistle reading comes from 1 John 5, promising us victory and life in Christ. The Gospel comes from John 20:19-23, and it shows the empowering of the disciples to begin the mission of the Church. The Old Testament lessons come from Numbers, chapters 16 and 22, and show how God will overcome enemies to His church, both those from within and those without.

This week kicks off what is known as Holy Week or "Passion Week." Different from later Prayer Books and lectionaries, the Reformation-era BCPs did not have a "Palm Sunday." Instead, this Sunday was the "Sunday Next Before Easter," a Sunday entirely dedicated to the Cross. The central emphasis is clear in the lengthy readings of all 75 verses of Matthew 26 and then 54 verses of Matthew 27. The Epistle reading and Second Lesson for Evening Prayer provide the theological reflection on the event, Philippians 2:5-11 and Hebrews 5:1-10. The Old Testament lessons cover the plagues of Exodus, Exodus 9 & 10, drawing the connection between God's cursing and the wrath born by Christ on the cross.

This week's Collect and proper Scripture passages tie together the themes of God's covenant, His people, and the priestly work of Christ in salvation. The Epistle reading from Hebrews 9 explains how Christ is our high priest who enters the sanctuary in heaven. The Gospel, from John 8, portrays Jesus as the Covenant God of Abraham, as He proclaims to be "I Am." The Old Testament lessons come from Exodus, chapters 3 and 5, and show how the God of Moses revealed His name as I Am and promised to deliver His people from Egypt. Israel of old was not always faithful, however, and often blamed God for their afflictions. Nevertheless, God remains faithful.

We have passed the midpoint in the season of Lent, and so this week's Collect and readings focus on relief. Though we deserve punishment, God gives us grace through the gospel of Christ. The Epistle reading, from Galatians 4, tells the "allegory" of the two covenants, Hagar-Sinai and the Promise, and Paul uses this understanding of Genesis to argue for salvation by grace rather than works. The Gospel comes from John 6 and shows Jesus providing for those who follow Him in the wilderness. It also connects Exodus and the Passover to His own work. The two Old Testament readings, Gen. 43 and 45, show the reconciliation of warring brothers in the true house of Israel.

For this week in Lent, the Prayerbook focuses on spiritual warfare, the battle against the demonic but also against sin and those under its power. The Epistle reading, from Ephesians 5, restates certain sins from last week but adds our need to reprove them by living in the light of Christ. The Gospel reading is from Luke 11, where Jesus casts out demons and then warns about both the dangers of a house divided and a house left vacant. You are either actively with Jesus or you are against Him. The Old Testament lessons begin the saga of Joseph, from Genesis 39 and 42.