Lectionary for Febuary 7th, 2010: Epiphany 5 Year C

Isa 6:1-8, (9-13) (2)*, Ps 138 (3/1)**, 1 Cor 15:1-11 (2)*, Lk 5:1-11 (1)*

* (x) indicates the text in question occurs ‘x’ number of times in the 3 year lectionary cycle
** (x/y) indicates the text in question occurs 'x' number '' '' '' with 'y' number of optional occurrences additionally

Isaiah

• Isaiah 6 is read on this Sunday as well as on Transfiguration B. Since that wasn't so long ago, it might be interesting to see how this text influenced you last year if you used it. If you didn't use it, maybe it should be pulled out this time.
• This text communicated something of the fearful mystery of who God is.
• This text seems to have been selected because Isaiah and Peter had very similar expereinces of the presence of God in very different contexts.
• Isaiah is one of the most preached books of the OT. We're going to be seeing it a lot during Lent. Maybe now is a good time to look ahead and brush off a commentary on the book as preparation.

Psalm

• It is a royal song of praise to God
• Psalm 138 is roughly more common than most. It will be read again in three months during Proper 12. It is read on Proper 16 of Year A and is an option on Proper 5 of Year B. Particularly noteworthy is that the most common Psalms tend to be repeated on the same festival every year (Psalm 72 on Epiphany). That is not the case with this psalm.
  

1 Corinthains 15

• This marks the last of the 1st Corinthian series. However, it ends wonderfully. This text on the Resurrection is great on so many levels. Sunday of the series

Luke 5

• The miraculous catch of fish is a fun story - especially since it's coming up during ice fishing season.
• For the historically curious: The Medieval lectionaries read this text together with 1 Peter 3:8-15 (Doing good, suffering, ready answers of faith) on Trinity 5. The old Lutheran lectionary (SBH) added the OT text Lamentations 3:22-33 (God's mercies are new every morning). The connection between these texts and Luke seem tenuous at best. The old Book of Common Prayer used 1 Kings 19:19-21 instead of Lamentations (drawing a line between Elisha's call and Peter's), and added Psalm 84:8-end (Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere).

By the time that the Ordinary Time journey through Luke resumes on the other side of Trinity Sunday, it will have skipped all of Luke 5:12-7:17. In that time, a leper and paralytic are healed, Levi is called, Fasting comes up, Jesus is Lord of the Sabath, the Twelve are chosen, cities are blessed and cursed, enemies are to be loved, judging is thrown out, trees are identified by their fruit, builders are shown to be wise or foolish, a centurion shows faith, and a son is raised from the dead for his widowed mother.

Pay attention to stuff like that. You'll start seeing the lectionary in a whole new way.