In the following pages are comments on the weekly readings from the Old Testament as set in the Revised Common Lectionary. The comments are the result of an engagement with the text by the writer, bearing in mind the historical and literary context of the readings, the other readings set for the week, the season in the Christian year, and events that are taking place around us.

The comments have been prepared by a team of writers from the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania of the Uniting Church in Australia. The team consists of Audrey Schindler, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson and myself, Howard Wallace. For a full schedule of readings and assigned writers click here. Any suggestions or comments about this page should be sent to me as web coordinator (hwallace@vic.uca.org.au).

Comments on New Testament and Gospel readings for each week can be found on Bill Loader's web site under lectionary resources. Further comments on the OT readings for each week can be found at Anna Grant-Henderson's web site.
 

Year B: Advent
Advent 1, November 27, 2005 - Isaiah 64:1-9
Advent 2, December 4, 2005 - Isaiah 40:1-11
Advent 3, December 11, 2005 - Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Advent 4, December 18, 2005 - 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Year B: Christmas
Christmas Day 1, December 25, 2005 - Isaiah 9:2-7
Christmas Day 2, December 25, 2005 - Isaiah 62:6-12
Christmas Day 3, December 25, 2005 - Isaiah 52:7-10
Christmas 1, January 1, 2006 - Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Year B: Epiphany
Baptism of Jesus, January 8, 2006 - Genesis 1:1-5
Epiphany 2, January 15, 2006 - 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
Epiphany 3, January 22, 2006 - Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Epiphany 4, January 29, 2006 - Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Epiphany 5, February 5, 2006 - Isaiah 40:21-39
Epiphany 6, February 12, 2006 - 2 Kings 5:1-14
Epiphany 7, February 19, 2006 - Isaiah 43:18-25
Transfiguration, February 26, 2006 - 2 Kings 2:1-12

Year B: Lent
Lent 1, March 5, 2006 - Genesis 9:8-17
Lent 2, March 12, 2006 - Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Lent 3, March 19, 2006 - Exodus 20:1-17
Lent 4, March 26, 2006 - Numbers 21:4-9
Lent 5, April 2, 2006 - Jeremiah 31:31-34
Palm-Passion Sunday, April 9, 2006 - Isaiah 50:4-9a

Year B: Easter
During Easter where readings from Acts replace the Old Testament readings, comments will be on the Psalm set for the Sunday.
Easter Day (alt) or Easter Evening, April 16, 2006 - Isaiah 25:6-9
Easter 2, April 23, 2006 - Psalm 133
Easter 3, April 30, 2006 - Psalm 4
Easter 4, May 7, 2006 - Psalm 23
Easter 5, May 14, 2006 - Psalm 22:25-31
Easter 6, May 21, 2006 - Psalm 98
Easter 7, May 28, 2006 - Psalm 1
Pentecost, June 4, 2006 - Ezekiel 37:1-14

Year B: Pentecost or Ordinary Time
Trinity Sunday, June 11, 2006 - Isaiah 6:1-8
Pentecost 2, June 18, 2006 - 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
Pentecost 3, June 25, 2006 - 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
Pentecost 4, July 2, 2006 - 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
Pentecost 5, July 9, 2006 - 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
Pentecost 6, July 16, 2006 - 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Pentecost 7, July 23, 2006 - 2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Pentecost 8, July 30, 2006 - 2 Samuel 11:1-15
Pentecost 9, August 6, 2006 - 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a
Pentecost 10, August 13, 2006 - 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Pentecost 11, August 20, 2006 - 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Pentecost 12, August 27, 2006 - 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43
Pentecost 13, September 3, 2006 - Song of Songs 2:8-13
Pentecost 14, September 10, 2006 - Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Pentecost 15, September 17, 2006 - Proverbs 1:20-33
Pentecost 16, September 24, 2006 - Proverbs 31:10-31
(My sincere apologies to those who have searched in vain these last weeks for the comment for Pentecost 17 on. Trouble with the connection to the server prevented me from getting it up on time. I am loading all the missing comments. Please note the NEW WEB ADDRESS and record it in your 'Favourites' )
Pentecost 17, October 1, 2006 - Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
Pentecost 18, October 8, 2006 - Job 1:1; 2:1-10
Pentecost 19, October 15, 2006 - Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Pentecost 20, October 22, 2006 - Job 38:1-7, (34-41)
Pentecost 21, October 29, 2006 - Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Pentecost 22 , November 5, 2006 - Ruth 1:1-18
Pentecost 23, November 12, 2006 - Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Pentecost 24, November 19, 2006 - 1 Samuel 1:4-20
Christ the King/The Reign of Christ, November 26, 2006 - 2 Samuel 23:1-7