Gospel commentary index Lectionary Year A
On this page, you can find an index to all the commentary articles on the gospel lectionary readings for the whole of Year A, together with links to the video discussions between Ian and James. The articles will be reposted with updates during the year—but they are listed here for convenience and planning ahead.
How do General Synod elections work?
Andrew Goddard writes: The election process for the new General Synod of the Church of England is now well underway with the voting period having opened just over a week ago on Monday 21st September and closing on Monday 12th (postal) or Tuesday 13th October (online). Results will be declared over the rest of that week so that all are declared by Monday 19th. The Church of England website has further details. The particular features of General Synod elections Just as elections to the House of Commons are in one sense multiple individual elections in 650 constituencies so elections to…
Jesus’ parable of the wicked tenants in Matthew 21
The Sunday lectionary reading for Trinity 18 in Year A is the second of three judgement parables against the Jerusalem leaders in Matt 21.33–46: traditionally, the parable of the wicked…
Can we make sense of the Israel-Palestine debate?
Why are our conversations (!) about Israel-Palestine so problematic? Why is there an apparently unbridgeable chasm between the two sets of views on this issue? Is there a way to…
Honestly—I really am not busy
Several times in the last week or so, I have received a communication from someone which says ‘I know you are very busy…’ and these have stuck in my mind….
What does General Synod need in 2026?
Elections are now taking place for the next quinquennium (five year term) for the General Synod in the Church of England. This is my ‘address’ (manifesto) as I stand for…
Matching our speech with our actions in Matthew 21
As we continue to read through Matthew’s gospel in ordinary time in the lectionary, for Trinity 17 in Year A we vault over the entry into Jerusalem and land in…
Who is writing the new Religious Education curriculum?
Guy Hordern writes: For more than eighty years, the Church of England has had a formal place in determining what is taught in Religious Education in England. That may shortly…
What did humour in preaching ever do for us?
Can we use humour in preaching? What does it do to help in engaging the listeners? What are the dangers and pitfalls? Was Jesus funny? Last Sunday week, after I…
The reckless generosity of God in Matthew 20
The lectionary reading for Trinity 16 in Year A is the parable of the workers in the vineyard in Matt 20.1–16. The epistle is Phil 1.21–30, Paul’s remarkable expression of…
Paul’s passion for life in Christ in Phil 1 video discussion
In the epistle for Trinity 16 in Year A, Philippians 1.21-end, we turn from the practical application at the end of Romans back to Paul’s more usual style, using dense…
Where have all the clergy gone?
The harsh reality of demographics means that the numbers of stipendiary clergy will continue to decline significantly over the next ten years. What will that mean in practice for the…
