Alternative Readings for Year B

After preaching three cycles of Year B with its repetitive nature in John 6, I looked at the parts of Mark we never get to preach. I believe these texts are important for understanding the totality of the Gospel of Mark. Therefore I put together this mini-alternative lectionary in place of those assigned summer readings. It offers the opportunity to reflect and preach on some texts we would never hear in public worship. Preaching these texts fills in the Markan gaps in the RCL and then smoothly joins back at Lectionary 25, Proper 20. In order to accomplish this, 9 weeks are involved because of the need to re-order some of Mark already in the RCL.

Although I think the Feeding of the 5000 and the Bread of Life texts in John are important to know and worthy of occasional preaching, I believe the richness of Mark in the texts commonly avoided is valuable to preach the abundance and generosity of God given in Mark. There are two frames, the feeding of the crowds in chapters six and eight and the healing of the blind man in chapter 8 with the healing of Bartimaeus in chapter 10. I discussed this further in my article “Rethinking the Gospel of Mark: Resurrection Narrative as Epic” (Scripture for Christ's Time: Reading Year B; Currents in Theology and Mission, the Theological Journal of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and Wartburg Theological Seminary (WTS), Vol 41 No 6 (2014).

When reading the texts of the Feeding of the 5000 and the Feeding of the 4000 please note the baskets, both in number and size.  

Readings for Sundays after Pentecost -- 2021

8^th Sunday after Pentecost                   in place of Lectionary 16, Proper 11

 INTRODUCTION

Mark’s gospel makes clear how great was the press of the crowd, with its countless needs to be met, on Jesus and his disciples. Yet in today’s gospel Jesus advises his disciples to get away and rest, to take care of themselves. Sometimes we think that when others are in great need, we shouldn’t think of ourselves at all, but Jesus also honors the caregivers’ need. We are sent from Christ’s table to care for others and for ourselves.

Numbers 27:15-21 (NRSV)                    

Ephesians 2:11-22 (NRSV)

Mark 6:30-52 (NRSV)                           

 

9^th Sunday after Pentecost                    in place of Lectionary 17, Proper 12

 

INTRODUCTION

In today’s texts we are shown how easily we are distracted from God’s plan for us. Indeed, our concern for ourselves scatters the sheep of God’s flock and prevents us from meeting the needs of others. We get caught up in saying the right words and using the right customs, discounting the needs of our world. In Ephesians we hear a prayer for our ability to focus on the important things in life, that we will receive greater knowledge for the kingdom of God. In the midst of our complicated world, we are reassured in these texts that, in spite of our failings, God continues to work in the world and creates wholeness in our brokenness.

Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV)                                  

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV)

Mark 6:53-7:13 (NRSV)                                   

  

10^th Sunday after Pentecost                  in place of Lectionary 18, Proper 13

 

INTRODUCTION

How often have we wished God would just come down and take care of it all—all the pain, the injustice, the sorrow and grief! In today’s readings we hear the cry of the Israelites calling for God to do just that. In Ephesians we hear God has already come and knit us into an amazing gift for the world. In Mark we find we are not so sure we want to receive the gift of wholeness that Christ offers but instead defile the gift and find ways to promote self-interest disregarding what is outside.

 

Isaiah 64:1-6 (NRSV)

Ephesians 4:1-16 (NRSV)

Mark 7:14-23 (NRSV)

 

11^th Sunday after Pentecost                  in place of Lectionary 19, Proper 14

 

INTRODUCTION

In today’s Old Testament and Gospel readings we witness the love and persistence of mothers and what they are willing to do for their children. We witness their faith and their courage that defy the powers of the world and challenge God. Persistence is shown to be a holy attribute. The people of Ephesus are assured of God’s love and encouraged to care for one another, to be imitators of God.  

2 Kings 4:17-37 (NRSV) abridged

Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (NRSV)

Mark 7:24-30 (NRSV)

 

¹⁷ The [Shunammite] woman conceived and bore a son at that season, in due time, as Elisha had declared to her.

¹⁸ When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. ¹⁹ He complained to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” ²⁰ He carried him and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon, and he died. ²¹ She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, ….²⁴ Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not hold back for me unless I tell you.” ²⁵ So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

…. ²⁷ When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi [his servant] approached to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” ²⁸ Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not mislead me?’” ….³⁰ Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave without you.” So he rose up and followed her. …. 

³² When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. ³³ So he went in and closed the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. ³⁴ Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child, putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of the child became warm. ³⁵ He got down, walked once to and fro in the room, then got up again and bent over him; the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. ³⁶ Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” ….” ³⁷ She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground; then she took her son and left.

12^th Sunday after Pentecost                  in place of Lectionary 20, Proper 15

 

INTRODUCTION

Today in 1 Kings and Mark, God comes to us in silence and speaks to us in ways that we can hear. In Ephesians we are told to be thankful at all times. God does not always come to us in ways we expect, but we are to live our lives being prepared for God’s presence and in thanksgiving.

 

1 Kings 19:11-13a (NRSV)

Ephesians 5:15-20 (NRSV)

Mark 7:31-37 (NRSV)

13^th Sunday after Pentecost                  in place of Lectionary 21, Proper 16

 INTRODUCTION

In today’s readings, we are confronted with people who believe we live in a world of scarcity, that there is not enough to go around. Elisha and Jesus both say trust in God and serve the people. There isn’t enough until you serve them. God’s abundance begins in service. In Ephesians we are told to put on the armor of God so that in the Spirit we may act boldly. All things are possible in Christ Jesus. 

2 Kings 4:42-44 (NRSV)

Ephesians 6:10-20 (NRSV)

Mark 8:1-13 (NRSV)

14^th Sunday after Pentecost                  in place of Lectionary 22, Proper 17

 

INTRODUCTION

In today’s texts we learn God’s law is not external to us but part of the very fabric of our lives. God’s law and wisdom for us is revealed in the way we live with our neighbors, implanted in our hearts for deeds and words of love and concern. God’s word for us is not something to be withheld or treated as a finite commodity but shared with extravagance for the sake of the world. With the very little that we have, God’s abundance continues to overflow the baskets of our lives.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 (NRSV)

James 1:17-27 (NRSV)

Mark 8:14–21 (NRSV)

 

15^th Sunday after Pentecost                  in place of Lectionary 23, Proper 18

 

INTRODUCTION

As we prepare for worship this morning, look around. What does God’s kingdom look like here? As always, God’s people are a mixed group: we are of different faith traditions, come from many walks of life, some wealthier, some struggling with sorrow and grief; some unemployed; some overworked. Yet Christ invites us all to come and know God’s judgment of mercy, to see God’s kingdom with clarity, and to know God’s presence revealed to us in Jesus the Christ. In Christ’s healing presence, we see the world in new ways of hope and possibility.

 

Isaiah 35:4-7a (NRSV)

James 2:1-17 (NRSV)

Mark 8:22-30 (NRSV)

 

16^th Sunday after Pentecost                  in place of Lectionary 24, Proper 19

 

INTRODUCTION

In this week’s texts, the role of teacher is emphasized. In Isaiah we hear of the tongue of the teacher, the gift of explaining things and the willingness to suffer on behalf of the other. In James we hear cautionary words emphasizing the responsibility that teachers have for the care of their students. And in the gospel, Mark tells us of Jesus teaching his disciples and the crowd “the way of the cross”. As our school year begins, let us think about the examples of teachers in our lives. (from Sundays and Seasons)

Isaiah 50:4-9a (NRSV)

James 3:1-12 (NRSV)

Mark 8:31-9:1 (NRSV)