Welcome Back!
Welcome Back!
NL 300- Introduction to the Narrative Lectionary year 3 (Luke)
Welcome back to Tails of Faith, (ideally) a weekly Substack on the Narrative Lectionary.
Let me introduce myself, and catch up my readers/listeners on the Summer. I am the Rev. AJ Ochart, a full time minister, and graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary. I consider myself theologically and politically progressive, and have been working through unpacking and deconstructing some of the harmful assumptions that I have inherited. I take the Bible too seriously to take it literally, and am continually learning more about what people who are way smarter than I am are saying about it. At the same time, I also realize that the expectations in the pews and the academy are different, and try to strike a balance (sometimes more effectively than others). I believe that we are in the midst of a new reformation, and I am excited to see what the church of the 21st Century will look like and be, as 20th Century/Christendom models no longer work.
I am now serving a congregation in the Upstate of South Carolina, so I will be introducing a whole new group to the Narrative Lectionary (the third time I have done so). I have been preaching from the NL for the last several years (through at least two cycles), and have found it a great tool for overall biblical literacy. I started this Substack because (as you likely know by now) there are a huge number of resources for the Revised Common Lectionary, and only a handful of ones for the NL. This is just my humble offering of some of the knowledge that I have collected over the years.
I started this Substack with blog posts, especially emphasizing the interconnection between the texts so we know from what coconut tree they have come (wink wink). I started by doing in-depth blog posts, but last year started a podcast version with my wife, Louise. She provides a different perspective on the texts, and we have enjoyed the opportunity to discuss. Usually I go strong through the fall, and then post less often in the spring as things catch up with me (sorry). I will do all that I can to keep up, but this is also a side-project along with full time ministry.
We are planning on at least doing podcasts (since those take considerably less time for me), but I will also try to add my research notes and thoughts in blog form as well.
If you would like to financially contribute to this work, there is a way to be a paid subscriber. This is a huge help and motivation for me, but certainly not necessary. All of my Narrative Lectionary content is available free of charge to whoever wants to see or hear it. I am starting out a little ahead of the game this year, so paid subscribers will get access earlier. However, I cannot guarantee that this will always be the case. I cannot express how much gratitude I have for those of you who have used your hard-earned cash (or Con-Ed allowance) to support my work. There have been many times when I am ready to drop it all, and someone subscribes and gives me that jolt of enthusiasm that I need.
In thanks for my paid subscribers, I do also throw in special services, blogs, newsletter articles, and other goodies from time to time which do not go out to the general list. Paid subscribers also have access to posts that go further back (which will become more important when I have completed a full cycle).
I will continue to develop how this resource will work, and would love to hear from you what you like, what you don’t find useful, and how I might be able to improve it as a resource for your own sermon prep and/or knowledge (if I can).
What is the Narrative Lectionary?
A ‘Lectionary’ is simply a list of texts for particular days throughout the year (and often spanning multiple years). The Reformed Common Lectionary (that many Presbyterians and other Mainliners are familiar with) is a three year cycle (there is also a two year Daily Lectionary).
The Narrative Lectionary (NL) is a four year cycle of Sunday scripture readings originally developed by Luther Seminary. Each year is a survey of biblical narratives running from the Sunday after Labor Day until Pentecost Sunday. The readings are arranged chronologically (according to setting) and come from the Hebrew Scriptures in the fall, then transition to one of the four gospels (this year, Luke) from Advent to Easter, and then stories and writings from the early church until Pentecost Sunday.
As you may guess, narrative is one of the main emphases of this lectionary. Sunday texts tend to focus on individual stories from our scriptures, and are woven together in such a way that we can see the larger narrative of the whole Bible over the year. I have found the NL to be a great tool to help overall biblical literacy since each year is an opportunity to not only hear wonderful tales of faith, but to see the larger narrative of our scriptures. The summers are left open for sermon series or a return to the RCL.
The Reformed Common Lectionary is one used by many Mainline churches, and is a three year cycle of readings with a Psalm, Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel reading for each Sunday. Similarly, the Daily Lectionary provides four readings for each day. These are great resources when readers or hearers have a solid understanding of the overall narrative and chronological framework for the Bible (as was the case when they were developed). However, I do not believe that we can assume such an understanding from the general population (even those who regularly attend worship services).
There is some debate on this, but I generally prefer a Lectionary over selecting whatever text I want to for several reasons. First of all, it is a discipline. There are some texts that are very easy to preach from, and some that need to be wrestled with (and I think it is an act of faith to do so). Choosing one’s own text provides the temptation for confirmation bias; if you are only picking texts that align with your theological or political preferences, you may be missing out. I cannot tell you how many times that at this point in the planning I wonder what I will preach on a particular text, only for something in the world or my own personal life to perfectly align with it the week before. Of course, any Lectionary will still have its own bias and does not go into really challenging texts (it’s not an Ordination Exam). The only way to avoid selective reading is the do Lectio Continua (like I do for my Daily Prayer series), but that is impractical for Sunday preaching. Personally, I also find the narrowing of a lectionary very helpful, because I can be easily overwhelmed by too many choices (you should see me at a new restaurant). A Lectionary gives a manageable list of texts (1 or 4) to preach from.
Year 3, the Gospel According to Luke
This year begins with the second Creation narrative and temptation in the garden, YHWH’s covenant with Abram, and the end of Joseph’s story. The Exodus selections are the Passover instructions, and the Golden Calf Incident (on World Communion Sunday, so that will be fun). The narratives from the monarchy period are the story of Hannah, God’s promise to David, and Solomon’s dedication of the Temple. The Prophet era section includes the widow of Zarephath, the story of Jonah, Isaiah’s call, and Jeremiah’s oracle about a New Covenant. During the season of Advent we read Daniel and the Lion’s den, Joel’s oracle on the Spirit, and the famous “Spirit of the Lord” text from second Isaiah.
The Gospel account for this year is Luke’s, which does not need to be supplemented with a birth narrative. It begins on the Sunday before Christmas with the annunciation to Mary, and then the birth of Jesus and Shepherd’s visit on Christmas Eve and Day respectively. The Christmas season also includes the stories of Jesus’ early life with his blessings and boyhood encounter at the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus’s early ministry is covered during the Epiphany season with Baptism, Sermon at Nazareth (referencing the earlier Isaiah 61 text), calling disciples, healing on the Sabbath, raising the widow’s son, messengers from John, the forgiveness of a sex worker, and finally the Transfiguration. The season of Lent starts with a narrative and metaphorical turn to Jerusalem on Ash Wednesday. Lent then covers Jesus’ later ministry with the Good Samaritan story, Lament over Jerusalem, parables about lost things, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, and Zacchaeus. Holy Week readings are Jesus’ triumphal entry, last supper, and the crucifixion.
Easter Sunday is Luke’s account of the resurrection (two men in white, idle tale, Peter checks it out), and the next week is the walk to Emmaus. The Easter season hits the high points of the book of Acts with Stephen, the Ethiopian Eunuch, and the Council at Jerusalem. The next few weeks take texts from Galatians, starting with a recap of the Paul/Peter beef and Paul’s defense of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone. The second Galatians text contrasts life under the tutelage of the law and the adult life of faith, ending with the famous “no longer male or female” line. Pentecost Sunday has the Acts 2 text (not including the Amos reference interestingly) paired with the Fruits of the Spirit text from Galatians. Full disclosure, I will likely focus on the Acts of the Apostles over the summer of 2025, so will skip the Acts texts after Easter and either extend the Galatians focus or add another epistle to my preaching.
Themes this year
Some meta-themes that I am noticing for this year:
God’s Preferential Option for the Poor: It makes perfect sense in this year when we will be reading Luke’s gospel to focus on God’s preferential option for the poor.
This starts at the very beginning with humanity being created from the dust of the earth.
God is faithful to Joseph, the discarded younger son of Jacob; and with Joseph’s descendants who are enslaved in the land where he became a prince.
God hears the cries of Hannah, the widow of Zarephath, the Widow at Nain, the sex-worker at Jesus’ feet, Lazarus (rather than the rich man), the Ethiopian Eunuch, and “Gentile sinners” who are justified by faith not works of the law.
God’s character (gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love) is lamented over by Jonah as the reason he does not want to go to Nineveh, and the reason that Joel expects God’s Spirit to be poured out on all flesh (later seen at Pentecost).
This Divine preference is made explicit in second Isaiah’s oracle, Mary’s Magnificat, Simeon’s prophetic oracle, and Jesus’ sermon on bringing good news to the poor (for which he almost gets lynched). It is Jesus’ protest in the Temple over economic disparity that ultimately gets him crucified.
It is the Samaritan's action as ‘neighbor’ which sets him apart, not his lineage.
Justice also provides a dark undercurrent to stories like the dedication of the Temple (which is built with enslaved labor), and plates into the assumptions about Zacchaeus.
Jerusalem/Temple: Another theme running across this year’s stories surround the concept and location of the Jerusalem Temple, and its precursor the Tabernacle.
There are Temple overtones to the Genesis 2 creation account (a high place where God can be seen face to face).
The covenant sacrifice made by Abram has overtones of the sacrificial system.
The Golden Calf provides a farcical copy of the Temple (in the narrative, Moses is being instructed how to create the Tabernacle as the Hebrews make the idol, there are also overtones to the Judah/Israel divide over worship places).
Hannah comes to Tabernacle to seek Justice, and is heard by God there.
David seeks to build a permanent house for YHWH, but God builds a (metaphorical) house for David instead.
Solomon builds and dedicates the Temple (though with enslaved labor) as a symbol that can be returned to in times of repentance.
Isaiah’s vision is set in the Jerusalem Temple/Heavenly Temple
Luke's account is careful to tell us that the infant Jesus is brought to the Temple for purification, and then young Jesus remains at the Temple, his “fether’s house”.
Adult Jesus sets his face towards and laments over Jerusalem and her Temple.
When Jesus enters Jerusalem, his first visit is to the Temple to drive out the money changers. The Temple is his base of operations that week.
Jerusalem is the location of Stephen’s martyrdom and the Council where the apostles decide that all may enter into the Kin-dom of God, by way of the Holy Spirit.
God’s Promises (and Providence): Several texts explicitly or implicitly reference God’s promises to their people (Abram, Passover, Hannah, David, Joel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Mary, Simeon and Anna, and those who Jesus heals), and the fulfilling of those promises (Joseph, Solomon, the widows, healings, the Resurrection, Council of Jerusalem, and letter to Galatians).
Covenant: Another minor thru-line is that of covenant.
Humans are introduced as covenant breakers, yet God remains faithful.
God makes covenant with (at) Abram, even though Abram sleeps through the ceremony.
God makes covenant with David and his descendants.
Solomon proclaims the Temple as a place where the people can return to the covenant.
Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant written on the heart, and Joel and Second Isaiah speak of God’s Spirit.
Mary and Simeon see Jesus as a fulfillment of God’s covenant.
Philip, Peter, and Paul all stake salvation on the covenantal grace of God, rather than the doing of the law.
Groupings/Series
Some find that grouping texts around themes/series are helpful, here is an attempt at such groupings for this year.
September- The Promises of God: Creation and Fall, God’s Promise to Abram, God works through Joseph, The Promise of Passover.
October- The Voice of God: The Golden Calf, God Answers Hannah, God’s Promise to David, Solomon Dedicates the Temple.
November- The Love of God: God’s care for the Widow, Jonah and God’s Mercy, God Calls Isaiah, God Promises a New Covenant.
December/Advent- The Lord is With You: Daniel and the Lions, God’s Promised Spirit, Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me, Jesus’ Birth Announced, Birth of Jesus, Shepherd’s Visit, Simeon and Anna.
Epiphany- Galilean Ministry (could treat as one section, or split into separate months)
January- Prepare the Way of the Lord: Boy in the Temple, Jesus Baptized, Sermon in Nazareth, Fish for People.
February- More than a Prophet: Healing in the Sabbath, Raising the Widow’s Son, More than a Prophet, Forgiven at Jesus Feet, Transfiguration.
Lent- Face Towards Jerusalem: Jesus Turns to Jerusalem, Good Samaritan, Lament over Jerusalem, Lost Parables, Rich Man and Lazarus, Zacchaeus, Holy Week.
Easter- The Good News for All: Resurrection, Emmaus Road, Stephan’s Witness, Ethiopian Eunuch, Council at Jerusalem, Living by Faith, One in Christ, Pentecost.