Acts 15:5-34 John 10:17-28

Acts 17:1-15 John 11:47-57

Acts 17:19-28 John 12:19-36

Acts 18:22-28 John 12:36-47

Acts 21:8-14 John 14:27-15:7

Acts 21:26-32 John 16:2-13

Acts 23:1-11 John 16:15-23

Ephesians 5:9-19 Matthew 18:10-20

Romans 1:1-7, 13-17 Matthew 4:25-5:13

Romans 1:18-27 Matthew 5:20-26

Romans 1:28-2:9 Matthew 5:27-32

Romans 2:14-29 Matthew 5:33-41

Romans 2:28-3:18 Matthew 6:31-34, 7:9-11

Romans 4:4-12 Matthew 7:15-21

Romans 4:13-25 Matthew 7:21-23

Romans 5:10-16 Matthew 8:23-27

Romans 5:17-6:2 Matthew 9:14-17

Romans 7:1-13 Matthew 9:36-10:8

Romans 7:14-8:2 Matthew 10:9-15

Romans 8:2-13 Matthew 10:16-22

Romans 8:22-27 Matthew 10:23-31

Romans 9:6-19 Matthew 10:32-36, 11:1

Romans 9:18-33 Matthew 11:2-15

Romans 10:11-11:2 Matthew 11:16-20

Romans 11:2-12 Matthew 11:20-26

Romans 11:13-24 Matthew 11:27-30

Romans 11:25-36 Matthew 12:1-8

Romans 12:4-5, 15-21 Matthew 12:9-13

Romans 14:9-18 Matthew 12:14-16, 22-30

Romans 15:7-16 Matthew 12:38-45

Romans 15:17-29 Matthew 12:46-13:3

Romans 16:1-16 Matthew 13:4-9

Romans 16:17-24 Matthew 13:10-23

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Matthew 13:24-30

1 Corinthians 2:9-3:8 Matthew 13:31-36

As we approach Meatfare Sunday, Dr. Humphrey reflects on the Epistle and Gospel readings in light of passages in Joel and Isaiah.

What do the martyrdom of John the Forerunner and the weakness of Herod have to say to twenty-first century North American Christians? Explore the implications of John’s beheading and St. Paul’s description of the Forerunner, with the help of Psalm 2 and Malachi 4.

The prophet Jeremiah helps us to consider, along with this Sunday’s gospels and epistle, the different ways in which God makes himself intimately known to each of us, and to all of us together, in the Church. (Luke 8:26-39; Gal 1:11-19; Luke 16:19-31; Jeremiah 31:31-34)

We look at the Psalms, the purpose of the Torah for the Hebrew people, and the story of David dancing before the ark to illumine the theme of liberty seen in our readings for this coming Divine Liturgy.

The “unnecessary” stories of the three youths (in Daniel 3 and The Song of Azariah) and of St. Joseph, husband of the Theotokos (Matthew 1) are illumined by God’s care for the humble in Deuteronomy 10:14-21.

This Saturday we commemorate the righteous Job, who is seen as an exemplar of intercessory prayer, and steadfastness, in both Old and New Testament. Today we probe his prophetic insight into the complexity of this world and the greatness of our human-loving LORD.

We look to the gospel and epistle readings for this feastday, in order to give us wisdom and courage in meeting the challenges of our own. Luke 1: 1-80, 3:16-20, Malachi 4, Romans 13:11-14:4

Our readings for the eleventh Sunday of Matthew (1 Corinthians 9:1-12, Matthew 18:23-25) happily correspond this year with our remembrance of the Holy Prophet and last of the Judges of Israel, Samuel. Parts of his story in 1 Samuel/Kingdoms 12 and 28, plus words about him in Psalm 98 (LXX)/99 and Sirach 46, help us understand more deeply God’s character of justice and forgiveness, exemplified in the prophet. We, too, are called to this pattern as we respond to the problems of our day, including the social unrest and violence of this week.

As we approach Lent, we are confronted by Jesus’ parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25, and Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 8 about making good judgments in life. We see these two passages illumined by the prophet Ezekiel’s parable of the Shepherd and the sheep.

This week we read the epistle through the lenses of St. John Chrysostom, St. John Climacus, the book of Genesis and Isaiah’s portrait of the Suffering Servant. Here we are given the hope to continue following our great forerunner Jesus. The gospel reading adds to this the importance of faith, prayer and fasting, as we set our faces towards the cross.

This weekend we consider the radiance of Bright week, the glory of the Theotokos, and the promise of our incorporation into the New Jerusalem, even as we reap many of its benefits now. We look to the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, as well as to the final book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, to fill in the wonder of the Paschal hymn and its call for us to rejoice and shine with the glory of God.

This week we consider an unusual Theotokion that addresses our Lord instead of holy Mary. We plumb its theological riches by means of revisiting Genesis 1-2; Hosea 8-13, and Daniel 13, as well as the Christ-hymn of Colossians 1:15-20.

On Jan 18, we sing the dismissal Theotokion in tone 5. Its deep theology may be unpacked by reference especially to the prophet Ezekiel and Psalm 130/131, as well as by the book of Revelation and some of the fathers of the Church.

We read 1 Cor. 8:8-9:2 in the context of St. Paul’s larger discussion of our One LORD God, while looking back to Deuteronomy 6:4, the food regulations of Leviticus, and the words of Amos and Isaiah on formalism and idolatry. We also consider how this passage prepares us for a Holy Lent.