First Reading

A Metaphor Inside a Metaphor Lectionary Date: August 14, 2022 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Tim dips into the First Reading vault to pull out a classic episode.

Things are not Always as they Seem Lectionary Date: August 7, 2022 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel traces the surprising development of a hopeful psalm.

Wrestling with the Act-Consequence Nexus Lectionary Date: July 31, 2022 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel dives into Qohelet to mess with a sometimes problematic platitude.

A Challenging Marriage Metaphor in Context Lectionary Date: July 24, 2022 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, First Reading is thrilled to have Dr. Gale Yee as our guest scholar to help us with a dense, troubling, and rich text. Dr. Yee is the Nancy W. King Professor of Biblical Studies, emerita, at Episcopal Divinity School. She served as the President of the Society of Biblical Literature in 2019. Her contributions to feminist biblical interpretation have influenced the entire field of Biblical Studies, one of the reasons we are so excited to talk with her today! If you are interested in more of her work, check out Towards an Asian American Biblical Hermeneutics: An Intersectional Anthology (Cascade, 2021) or The Hebrew Bible: Feminist and Intersectional Perspectives (Fortress, 2018).

The Ministry that Happens at Tables Lectionary Date: July 17, 2022 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy puts Abraham and Sarah's pop-up dinner party in conversation with Martha's ministry.

A Somewhat Confusing Poem Lectionary Date: July 10, 2022 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, we'd love to promote an episode by friend-of-the-podcast, Dr. Brent Strawn. Brent is a past guest on First Reading, and has a great episode all about Psalm 82 on his podcast, "In Parallel." Here's a link to the episode. Enjoy!

An Embodied Experience of God Lectionary Date: July 3, 2022 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel explores a passage with fascinatingly embodied imagery.

First, Let Me Say Good-bye Lectionary Date: June 26, 2022 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy explores Elisha's transition when he decided to follow a new divine call.

What Got You Here May Not Get You There Lectionary Date: June 19, 2022 [2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Tim makes connections between Elijah's divine encounter and Moses' experience.

A Party Episode for Preacher Wisdom Lectionary Date: June 12, 2022 [Trinity Sunday, Year C] All three co-hosts are together for a deep dive into the poetry about Woman/Preacher Wisdom!

What Pentecost Felt Like Lectionary Date: June 5, 2022 [Day of Pentecost, Year C] Rachel explores the sensations of Pentecost for the disciples and for God!

Slaves Set Free Lectionary Date: May 29, 2022 [7th Sunday of Easter, Year C] Rosy draws our attention to the enslaved girl who is overlooked in this story.

Paul's Prophetic Travel Guide and Host Lectionary Date: May 22, 2022 [6th Sunday of Easter, Year C] Tim sees a pattern in Paul's travels.

Contagious Holiness Lectionary Date: May 15, 2022 [5th Sunday of Easter, Year C] Rachel reveals the OT backdrop for Peter's rooftop vision.

Life Restored Lectionary Date: May 8, 2022 [4th Sunday of Easter, Year C] Rosy highlights the key elements surrounding the resurrection of a disciple from Joppa.

Saul's Non-Conversion Lectionary Date: May 1, 2022 [3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C] This week, we’re grateful to welcome Dr. Susan Hylen as our guest on First Reading. Susan is Associate Professor of New Testament at Emory University and the Candler School of Theology. She is a specialist in the history of women in the early church and in New Testament literature. A couple of her recent books you may be interested in are Women in the New Testament World, and A Modest Apostle: Thecla and the History of Women in the Early Church, both published by Oxford. Susan is an award-winning teacher and also serves as the general editor for the Journal of Biblical Literature—the flagship journal in the field of Biblical Studies. She is also an elder in the PC(USA) and has lots of experience on the church side of biblical engagement. It’s a real treat to have her with us to help us with this intriguing text.

An Authenticated Message Lectionary Date: April 24, 2022 [Second Sunday of Easter, Year C] Tim highlights a couple Old Testament resonances in the apostles' jailbreak scene.

Exasperated Hope Lectionary Date: April 17, 2022 [Easter Sunday, Year C] Rachel puts the First Reading in conversation with the Easter Gospel reading.

A Suffering Servant Lectionary Date: April 10, 2022 [Palm/Passion Sunday, Year C] Rosy has the scoop on the influence of Isaiah on Christian tellings of Jesus's suffering

Past and Future Hope Lectionary Date: April 3, 2022 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year C] Tim preaches from the poetic grammar of Psalm 126