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, and the season in the Christian year.

The following comments are designed to cover all possible arrangements of the lectionary given such variables as the day on which Epiphany falls, the date of Easter etc. While it is intended that the readings and comments can be clearly followed in any one particular year, the Calendar and Lectionary published by The Uniting Church (through the National Working Group on Worship), or similar specific year church calendars, will aid in finding the readings for a particular Sunday. If you have any major difficulties please let me know via email (hnwallace@bigpond.com).

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, Isaiah 64:1-9 and Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Advent 2, Isaiah 40:1-11 and Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Advent 3, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 and Psalm 126
Advent 4, 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 and Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

Year B: Christmas

Introduction to the Old Testament readings in Christmas
Christmas Day 1 - Isaiah 9:2-7 and Psalm 96
Christmas Day 2 - Isaiah 62:6-12 and Psalm 97
Christmas Day 3 - Isaiah 52:7-10 and Psalm 98
Christmas 1 - Isaiah 61:10-62:3 and Psalm 148
Christmas 2, used when Epiphany (Jan. 6) falls on a weekday following the 2nd Sunday after Christmas - Jeremiah 31:7-14 and Psalm 147:12-20
Epiphany of the Lord (January 6) - Isaiah 60:1-6 and Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Year B: Epiphany

The number of Sundays in Epiphany depends on the date of Easter. The last Sunday in Epiphany in a particular year will be the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The readings for the Transfiguration of Jesus should be used on that Sunday.

Epiphany 1 or Baptism of Jesus, between January 7 and January 13 - Genesis 1:1-5 and Psalm 29
Epiphany 2, between January 14 and Jan. 20 - 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Epiphany 3, between Jan. 21 and Jan. 27 - Jonah 3:1-5, 10 and Psalm 62:5-12
Epiphany 4, between Jan. 28 and Feb. 3 - Deuteronomy 18:15-20 and Psalm 111
Epiphany 5, between Feb. 4 and Feb. 10 - Isaiah 40:21-39 and Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
Epiphany 6, between Feb. 11 and Feb. 17 - 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Psalm 30
Epiphany 7, between Feb. 18 and February 24 - Isaiah 43:18-25 and Psalm 41
Epiphany 8, between February 25 and Feb. 29 - Hosea 2:14-20 and Psalm 103:1-13, 22
Transfiguration of Jesus, last Sunday after Epiphany - 2 Kings 2:1-12 and Psalm 50:1-6

Year B: Lent

Ash Wednesday - Isaiah 58:1-12(alt.) and Psalm 51
Lent 1 - Genesis 9:8-17 and Psalm 25:1-10
Lent 2 - Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 and Psalm 22:23-31
Lent 3 - Exodus 20:1-17 and Psalm 19
Lent 4 - Numbers 21:4-9 and Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Lent 5 - Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Psalm 51:1-12
Palm-Passion Sunday - Isaiah 50:4-9a and Psalm 31:9-16 (for Passion Sunday)  or Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (for Palm Sunday)
Good Friday - Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and Psalm 22

Year B: Easter

Easter Day (alt) - Isaiah 25:6-9 and Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Easter 2 - Psalm 133
Easter 3 - Psalm 4
Easter 4 - Psalm 23
Easter 5 - Psalm 22:25-31
Easter 6 - Psalm 98
Easter 7 - Psalm 1
Day of Pentecost - Ezekiel 37:1-14 (alt) and Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

Year B: Pentecost or Ordinary Time

Trinity Sunday, first Sunday after Pentecost - Isaiah 6:1-8 and Psalm 29
If the Sunday between May 24 and 28 inclusive follows Trinity Sunday, the readings for Epiphany 8 are used.
Sunday between May 29 and June 4 (if after Trinity Sunday) - 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Sunday between June 5 and June 11 (if after Trinity Sunday) - 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) and Psalm 138
Sunday between June 12 and June 18 (if after Trinity Sunday) - 1 Samuel 15:34 - 16:13 and Psalm 20
Sunday between June 19 and June 25 (if after Trinity Sunday) - 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 and Psalm 9:9-20
Sunday between June 26 and July 2 - 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 and Psalm 130
Sunday between July 3 and July 9 - 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 and Psalm 48
Sunday between July 10 and July 16 - 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 and Psalm 24
Sunday between July 17 and July 23 - 2 Samuel 7:1-14a and Psalm 89:20-37
Sunday between July 24 and July 30 - 2 Samuel 11:1-15 and Psalm 14
Sunday between July 31 and Aug. 6 - 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a and Psalm 51:1-12 (see Lent 5)
Sunday between Aug. 7 and Aug. 13 - 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 and Psalm 130
Sunday between Aug. 14 and Aug. 20 - 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 and Psalm 111
Sunday between Aug. 21 and Aug. 27 - 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43 and Psalm 84
Sunday between Aug. 28 and Sept. 3 - Song of Songs 2:8-13 and Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9
Sunday between Sept. 4 and Sept. 10 - Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 and Psalm 125
Sunday between Sept. 11 and Sept. 17 - Proverbs 1:20-33 and Psalm 19
Sunday between Sept. 18 and Sept. 24 - Proverbs 31:10-31 and Psalm 1
Sunday between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1 - Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 and Psalm 124
Sunday between Oct. 2 and Oct. 8 - Job 1:1; 2:1-10 and Psalm 26
Sunday between Oct. 9 and Oct. 15 - Job 23:1-9, 16-17 and Psalm 22:1-15
Sunday between Oct. 16 and Oct. 22 - Job 38:1-7, (34-41) and Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c
Sunday between Oct. 23 and Oct. 29 - Job 42:1-6, 10-17 and Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22)
Sunday between Oct. 30 and Nov. 5 - Ruth 1:1-18 and Psalm 146
All Saints may be celebrated on Sunday Nov. 1 or on the Sunday after Nov. 1 - Isaiah 25:6-9 (see comment on this passage on Easter Day) and Psalm 24.
Sunday between Nov. 6 and Nov. 12 - Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 and Psalm 127
Sunday between Nov. 13 and Nov. 19 - 1 Samuel 1:4-20 and 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (as an alternate for Psalm 16)
Christ the King or The Reign of Christ, Sunday between Nov. 20 and Nov. 26 - 2 Samuel 23:1-7 and Psalm 132:1-12 (13-18)