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.
What exactly do we ‘render unto Caesar’ in Matthew 22?
The gospel reading for Trinity 20 in Year A is Matthew 22.15–22, the short exchange between Jesus and his opponents on the question of the Roman ‘poll’ tax. This has important theological implications for our understanding of issues of politics and power, though it is often misread. Jesus doesn’t teach the ‘separate realms’ that many readers claim! The epistle is 1 Thessalonians 1, and you can watch the video discussion of that here, and it is linked below, along with the video discussion of this passage in Matthew 22. We are now well embedded in Matthew’s triple grouping of three-fold…
What can we learn from The Cauldron of the Middle East?
The situation in the Middle East dominates our news—yet so much comment is woefully ill-informed. What do we need to understand, and how can the Church remedy its failure to…
Paul’s affirmations in 1 Thessalonians 1 video discussion
Paul’s opens his earliest letter, 1 Thessalonians (the reading for Trinity 20 in Years A) with a range of remarkable affirmations. Already he is expressing in nuce things that he…
How should the Church of England respond to the Green Party’s antisemitism?
The Green Party has become one of the most extreme in the UK following its annual conference. If the Church of England bans clergy from being members of other extreme…
Amazing grace and startling judgement in Matthew 22
The lectionary gospel for Trinity 19 in Year A is Matthew 22.1–14, the parable of the wedding banquet. This is the third of three parables about judgement in this section…
‘Open Reception’ and sexuality: three obstacles to a New Proposal
When the Church of England changed its practice to allow the ordination of women, there was a period of ‘open reception.’ Is there a parallel with same-sex marriage? Could ‘open reception’…
Paul’s affection for his people in Philippians 4 video discussion
The epistle for Trinity 19 in Year A is Phil 4.1–9. This reading follows on from the previous teaching about ‘having your citizenship in heaven’ and expounds what that means….
The Holy Spirit and ‘critical’ study of the Bible
The experience and sense of encounter with the Holy Spirit in Christian devotion is often set against the rational task of critical evaluation of the meaning of Scripture. But are…
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…
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…
