Introduction
Welcome (back) to the Narrative Lectionary! Perhaps this is your first year, and you are ready for a new type of lectionary (but low-key a little daunted by the idea). Perhaps you are returning to another year, interested to see how God may speak to you and your folks in this tour through the scriptures. Or, like me, you are re-entering this particular collection, ready to see how the Story of God, and of God’s people will manifest this time around.
What is the Narrative Lectionary?
The Narrative Lectionary is a four year cycle of scripture readings (much like the Reformed Common Lectionary’s three year cycle) created by Luther Seminary. Unlike the RCL, the Narrative Lectionary runs from September (week after Labor Day) until Pentecost. Each year goes chronologically thru the Hebrew Scriptures from September to Advent, then picks up one gospel account from Christmas to Easter (supplementing Christmas narratives in years, like this one, when the gospel account does not have one). The Easter season then explores Acts and one or two epistles, ending on Pentecost. Preachers can then go back to the RCL or do a Summer Series until the Narrative Lectionary starts back up again. This year’s lectionary looks like this:
Garden of Eden: Genesis 2:4b-25
Isaac born to Sarah: Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7
Jacob Wrestles God: Genesis 32:[9-13] 22-30
Moses and God's Name: Exodus 1:8-14, [15-2:10]; 3:1-15
Hear O Israel: Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 6:4-9
Ruth: Ruth 1:1-17
David Anointed King: 2 Samuel 5:1-5; 6:1-5; Psalm 150
Kingdom Divided: 1 Kings 12:1-17, 25-29
Elijah at Mt. Carmel: 1 Kings 18:[17-19] 20-39
Hosea: Hosea 11:1-9
Isaiah's Vineyard Song: Isaiah 5:1-7, 11:1-5
Josaih's Reform: 2 Kings 22:1-10, [11-20]; 23:1-3
Promise of the Messiah: Jeremiah 33:14-18
Isaiah of the Exile: Isaiah 40:1-11
Rebuilding the Temple: Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13
Zechariah's Song: Luke 1:5-13 [14-25], 57-80
Birth of Jesus: Luke 2:1-14[15-20]
Beginning of the Good News: Mark 1:1-20
Jesus' Ministry Begun: Mark 1:21-45
Jesus Heals and Teaches: Mark:2:1-22
Parables in Mark: Mark 4:1-34
Jesus and the Gerasene Demoniac: Mark 5:1-20
Jairus' Daughter Healed: Mark 5:21-43
Transfiguration: Mark 8:27-9:8
Passion Prediction: Mark 9:30-37
First Last and Last First: Mark 10:17-31
Bartimaeus Healed: Mark 10:32-52
Parable of the Tenants [Taxes to Caesar]: Mark 12:1-12 [13-17]
Great Commandment: Mark 12:28-44
End of the Age: Mark 13:1-8, 24-37
Triumphal Entry (or Anointing at Bethany): Mark 11:1-11; 14:3-9
Lord's Supper, Prayer in Gethsemane: Mark 14:22-42
Crucifixion: Mark 15:16-39
Resurrection: Mark 16:1-8
You Shall Be My Witnesses: Acts 1:1-14
Peter Heals in Jerusalem: Acts 3:1-10
Church in Thessalonica: Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thess 1:1-10
Church at Corinth: Acts 18:1-4; 1 Cor 1:10-18
Faith, Hope, and Love: 1 Cor. 13:1-3
Death Swallowed Up in Life: 1 Cor. 15:1-26, 51-57
Gifts of the Spirit: Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor. 12:1-13
Who is This Guy?
I am the Reverend Aaron Ochart, and I serve in a Presbyterian (USA) church in the New Orleans area. This is my seventh (?) time preaching through the Narrative Lectionary. One of things that I have deeply appreciated about the Narrative Lectionary is the chance to see the larger story presented in both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, I have learned a lot about both the micro and macro narratives presented, and this is my attempt to share them with you. Unlike the Reformed Common Lectionary, where there are many resources available, the Narrative Lectionary has fewer. This is an attempt to share some of the things that I have learned, and am continuing to learn, about these narratives. In some ways, I am creating what I wished I had access to when I first started preaching from the Narrative Lectionary. It also gives me the excuse to do some study and reflection, which it might be easy to skip because I have already perched these stories to a different congregation.
My approach to scripture is to the inspired Word of God, but also a literary work of human origin. In these scriptures we get a glimpse into ultimate wisdom, and a peek into the divine mind. We also have a humanly written and edited work, with flaws, biases, and contradictions. I, like all of us, must negotiate with the text. We seek to understand it in its own right examining the historical context in which it was written using the tools of literary and linguistic criticism. We explore the inter-textual and historical interpretations (good, bad, and ugly) that have lead us to the assumptions that we bring to the text today. We seek to uncover the wisdom revealed in these scriptures, old and new, to apply them to our own context.
I am also a bit of a geek, so I try to include pop-cultural references. I use many of these references in my preaching (sometimes to blank stares), but it is also an exercise in seeing where these same themes found in scripture can be seen in our favorite fandoms.
What Will You Get?
Each week (Godwilling) I will have a reflection on the text for the following Sunday. There will be an introduction, placing this text into the larger context of the Bible, as well as within the particular book from which it comes. This is the big thing that I think I bring to the table. You can easily look up a commentary for these texts, but getting the big picture can be more difficult. I then reflect on the text, and some ways that I see it’s interpretation being applied to preaching. Depending on the text, I may have a clear idea already where I am going, and therefore will have some clear themes and applications. Other times it will be early in my process, so I will be throwing out several possible themes and foci. Most of the time I will have some sort of pop-culture reference (usually from speculative fiction genres). And finish up with some hymn suggestions. These will be more from the Presbyterian perspective (the numbers are from “Glory to God” the most recent PC(USA) hymnal) since Lutheran hymns can be found on the Worship Resources document from Luther Seminary. During the school year, I tend to use the prayer of the day from that same resource, but if I write my own, I will share that. There may also be some seasonal liturgy (e.g. Advent Candle Liturgies) that I will share.
Should I Subscribe?
Obviously, I would love for you to, but to be honest, it will not get you a bunch of perks. I will release blog posts earlier to those who have subscribed, and from time to time there will be extra posts (special service liturgies, resources, etc) for paid subscriptions. Taking up a subscription is a way that you can support my ongoing ministry and work, which allows me to do these posts in the first place. For those of you who have subscribed; truly, words cannot express how much it means to me that you are willing to share your hard earned money (and/or continuing ed fund) because you value this resource. It keeps me going when it can be pretty tough to engage in parish ministry. Thank you!
Other Resources
There are other wonderful resources, and I highly suggest you use them as well. You likely know about them, but just in case:
Working Preacher (Luther Seminary)
This is the Narrative Lectionary Mother ship. There are weekly commentaries written by scholars all over (not just Lutheran/Luther Seminary), liturgy, and a weekly podcast from Luther Seminary scholars. They also have a weekly blog on the craft of preaching, which is great. You can also read commentaries on the same text from years past)
Worship Resources (Includes a Prayer of the Day, Hymn suggestions, Choral Music suggestion, secondary scripture, and liturgical color)
What is the Narrative Lectionary? A great resource for your session, board, members, etc. to explain what this ‘new fangled’ thing is.
This one has become one of my favorite resources. It is a weekly podcast conversation between a Christian minister and a Jewish Rabbi, both reflecting on the text at hand. It is enjoyable, and deep, and really gets me to dig deeper and understand a larger context. They have now made it all the way through a cycle, and there was some talk of them not continuing, but I am not sure. They also have a paid community where they share weekly liturgy and access to more conversations.
To be honest, this is not one of my favorite podcasts, but I know a lot of other people really like them, so check it out.
Non Narrative Lectionary Specific Resources
This is one of those great resources that I go to all the time. Basically, they make animated shorts to explain Biblical books, themes, and ideas. They started with a series giving quick overviews to books of the Bible which is one of the first places that I go when I am approaching a new text. They also have an amazing set of other videos on various topics (the How to Read the Bible series is very helpful), resources, and a long-running podcast. They definitely have a perspective (“We believe that the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus”) but they also very much take Hebrew Scripture seriously in its own right. They are slightly edgy (e.g. open to new and old interpretations that go against the ‘accepted’ modern-traditional one) but also don’t go too very far.
The Faith Adjacent Podcast (Formerly Bible Binge Podcast) is a great place for a semi-irreverent take on biblical stories (including casting if the story were to be made into a movie).
The NET Bible is an all-online Bible translation and resource, easy access to commentary, notes, Hebrew and Greek texts, tools, etc. I highly recommend it.
Easy and quick access to the NRSV, and ability to pull up specific paricapes (my scripture links are to Oremus)