Narrative Lectionary Cycle C – Luke 2012-13

The preaching texts are always listed first. From September through the Third Sunday of Advent, the preaching texts are taken from the Old Testament and a brief selection from the Gospel of Luke is noted in parentheses as an additional reading. From Christmas until Easter, a corresponding psalm and psalm verse are noted in parentheses. These accompanying readings are optional.

September 9 – Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 2:4b-7, 15-17; 3:1-8
Creation, Garden of Eden, fall into sin
(Luke 11:4, forgive our sins, save us from the time of trial)

September 16 – Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 15:1-6
God promises Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars. Abraham believed the Lord and it was reckoned to him as righteousness
(Luke 3:8, People are to bear the fruit of repentance, for God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones)

September 23 – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 37:3-8, 26-34; 50:15-21
Joseph’s dreams lead to family conflict and he is sold into slavery. Yet in the end Joseph forgives. Behind the scenes God works for good.
(Luke 6:35, Love your enemies and you will be children of God, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked)

September 30 – Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 12:1-13; 13:1-8
Passover: the blood of the lamb and unleavened bread signify God’s sacrifice of the lamb God’s deliverance
(Luke 22:14-20, Jesus’ words at Passover, bread and cup are his body and blood)

October 7 – Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 32:1-14
Golden calf shows unfaithfulness at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses intercedes and God forgives.
(Luke 23:34, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”)

October 14 – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20; 2:1-10
Samuel’s birth as God’s answer to Hannah’s prayer. She sings of God’s care for the needy.
(Luke 1:47-55, Mary’s magnificat echoes Hannah’s song)

October 21 – Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 7:1-17
God’s promise to David concerning his heir, who will be God’s Son and whose kingdom will endure forever
(Luke 1:30-33, The angel tells Mary that she will bear the one who will receive the throne of his ancestor David)

October 28 – Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:27-30, 41-43
Solomon fulfills the promise to David and builds the temple. It is a place of prayer for all nations
(Luke 19:45-46, Jesus says the temple is to be a house of prayer; he cleanses it)

November 4 – Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 17:1-16 (or 17:1-24)
Elijah and the widow; God’s care for those on the margin
(Luke 4:24-26, Jesus’ sermon about Elijah and the widow: God’s mercy to an outsider)

November 11 – Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Jonah 1:1-17; 3:1-10 (4:1-11)
Jonah’s attempted escape from God, God’s mercy on the repentant at Nineveh
(Luke 18:3, Lord be merciful to me, a sinner)

November 18 – Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 6:1-8
Call of Isaiah: Holy, holy, holy is God; the prophet’s sin, cleansing, and sending
(Luke 5:8-10, Peter says depart from me for I am a sinful man; Jesus says Peter will be catching people)

November 25 – Christ the King Sunday
Jeremiah 36:1-8, 21-23, 27-28; then 31:31-34
Jeremiah’s words are written on a scroll. He calls for repentance, but the king burns the scroll and Jeremiah must produce another. His message promises a new covenant.
(Luke 22:19-20, At the last supper: This cup is the new covenant in Jesus’ blood)

December 2 – First Sunday of Advent
Daniel 6:6-27
Daniel in the lions’ den; deliverance; hope for God’s kingdom which shall never be destroyed
(Luke 23:1-5, False charges against Jesus. Pilate says Jesus is innocent, but the charges lead to condemnation)

December 9 – Second Sunday of Advent
Joel 2:12-13, 28-29
Turning to a merciful God,
promise of the Spirit
(Luke 11:13, God’s gift of the Spirit to people)

December 16 – Third Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 61:1-11
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the oppressed, liberty to the captives, to make an everlasting covenant
(Luke 4:16-21, Jesus’ sermon at Nazareth: Isaiah 61 is fulfilled in him)

December 23 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
Luke 1:26-49
Announcement of Jesus’ birth to Mary; he will receive the throne of David and be Son of God
(Psalm 113 or 113:9)

December 24 – Christmas Eve
Luke 2:1-14 (or 2:1-20)
Birth of Jesus
(Psalm 96 or 96:3)

December 25 – Christmas Day
Luke 2:8-20
Shepherds visit the infant Jesus
or Matt 2:1-12, The Magi
(Psalm 123:1-2 or 123:2)

December 30 – First Sunday of Christmas
Luke 2:21-38
Simeon and Anna, Lord now you let your servant depart in peace, my eyes have seen your salvation
(Psalm 131 or 131:3)

January 6 – Epiphany
Luke 3:1-22
John baptizes, bear fruit worthy of repentance, share what you have
(Psalm 51:6-17 or 51:13)

January 13 – Second Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 4:14-30
Sermon at Nazareth (Isaiah fulfilled, Elijah and widow, Elisha and Naaman)
(Psalm 146 or 146:7b-8)

January 20 – Third Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 5:1-11
Great catch of fish, Peter will fish for people (option: 5:12-16, Healing a leper)
(Psalm 90:14-17 or 90:17b)

January 27 – Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 6:1-16
Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (plucking grain, healing a man) and call of disciples
(Psalm 92 or 92:4)

February 3 – Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 7:1-17
Healing the centurion’s slave by a word and raising the widow’s son at Nain
(Psalm 119:105-107 or 119:107)

February 10 – Transfiguration
Luke 9:28-45
Transfiguration, healing a boy with a demon, passion prediction
(Psalm 36:5-10 or 36:9)

February 13 – Ash Wednesday
Luke 9:51-62
Jesus starts for Jerusalem, rejected in Samaria, Don’t put your hand to the plow and turn back (the challenge of following Jesus)
(Psalm 5:7-8 or 5:8)

February 17 – First Sunday in Lent
Luke 10:25-42
Parable of the Good Samaritan
(Psalm 15 or 15:1)

February 24 – Second Sunday in Lent
Luke 13:1-9, 31-35
The tower in Siloam and need for repentance, parable of fig tree that bore no fruit, lament over Jerusalem
(Psalm 122 or 122:6)

March 3 – Third Sunday in Lent
Luke 15:1-32
Parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, Prodigal Son
(Psalm 119:167-176 or 119:176)

March 10 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
Luke 16:19-31
Parable of the rich man and Lazarus
(Psalm 41:1-3 or 41:1)

March 17 – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Luke 18:31-19:10
Healing a blind man, meeting Zacchaeus. Jesus came to seek and save the lost
(Psalm 84:1-4, 10-12 or 84:10)

March 24 – Palm Sunday
Luke 19:29-44
Triumphal entry, weeping over the city because it does not know what makes for peace
(Psalm 118:19-23 or 118:20)

March 28 – Maundy Thursday
Luke 22:1-27
Preparation for the Last Supper, Words of Institution, Jesus is one who serves
(Psalm 34:8-10 or 34:8)

March 29 – Good Friday
Luke 23:32-47
Crucifixion, Father forgive them, Today in Paradise, Into your hands I commend my Spirit
(Psalm 31:5-13 or 31:5a)

March 31 – Easter
Luke 24:1-16
Empty tomb, women perplexed, bring the message.
(Psalm 118:17, 21-24 or 118:22)

April 7 – Second Sunday of Easter
Luke 24:13-35
Emmaus road, “Our hearts burned along the road, as he opened to us the Scriptures”
(Psalm 30 or 30:11)

April 14 – Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60
Controversy in the early church; some set aside for service. Stephen forgives and is martyred.
(Luke 23:33-34a, 46; Jesus said “Father forgive them” and “Into your hands I commit my spirit”)

April 21 – Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 8:26-39
Ethiopian reads the Scriptures, comes to believe
(Luke 24:44-47, Jesus opened the Scriptures; forgiveness to be preached to all nations)

April 28 – Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 15:1-17
Council at Jerusalem, Faith gives identity to both Jews and Gentiles
(Luke 2:29-32, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of God’s people Israel)

May 5 – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21
Paul’s former life
Conflict with Peter at Antioch
Justification by faith, living by faith
(Luke 18:9-14, the tax collector who desires mercy is justified)

May 12 – Seventh Sunday of Easter
Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29
Neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; one in Christ
(Luke 1:68-73, God keeping his promise to Abraham)

May 19 – Pentecost
Acts 2:1- 4; Galatians 4:1-7
Pentecost; God pours the Spirit into our hearts so we can call on God as Father.
and/or Galatians 5:16-26
Fruit of the Spirit
(Luke 11:11-13, God gives the Holy Spirit to his children)