Sunday, July 26, 2020

Lectionary 17, Year A

Introduction

As Solomon prays for wisdom, we seek to more deeply know the treasures of faith. In today’s gospel Jesus offers everyday images that reveal to us the reign of God: a tree that becomes a sheltering home, yeast that penetrates and expands, a treasured pearl, a net that gains a great catch. Even as we seek the riches of God’s reign, the great surprise is that God’s grace finds us first!

Prayer of the Day

Almighty God, we remember before you today your apostles Mary Magdalene and James, the ones entrusted with the joyful news of his resurrection. Pour out your spirit upon your church that we may proclaim and serve Christ as our living Lord, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading - Acts 11:27-12:3a

27At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. 29The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; 30this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. 3After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.

Psalm 73:23-28

23Yet I am al- | ways with you; you hold me by | my right hand. 24You will guide me | by your counsel, and afterwards receive | me with glory. 25Whom have I in heav- | en but you? And having you, I desire nothing | upon earth. 26Though my flesh and my heart should | waste away, God is the strength of my heart and my por- | tion forever.

27Truly, those who forsake | you will perish; you destroy all who | are unfaithful. 28But it is good for me to | be near God; I have made you my refuge, Lord GOD, to tell of | all your works.

Gospel - John 20:1-2, 11-18

The fourth evangelist tells the story of Easter, relaying how Mary is surprised as she meets the risen Jesus and is chosen to be the first to share this good news with others.

1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 11Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.