First Reading

First Reading

By Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhDReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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First Reading episodes

  • Ezekiel 37:1–14
    I am the Resurrection and the Life

    Lectionary Date: March 26, 2023 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year A]

    Rosy puts the first reading and gospel reading into conversation.

    17 min
  • 1 Samuel 16:1–13
    God Rejects Us?

    Lectionary Date: March 19, 2023 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year A]

    Rachel takes a risky angle with David's origin story.

    11 min
  • John 4:5–42
    A Model Disciple

    Lectionary Date: March 12, 2023 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year A]

    Rosy listens for Hebrew Bible resonances in a famous Gospel text.

    19 min
  • Genesis 12:1–4a
    The Land I Will Show You

    Lectionary Date: March 5, 2023 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year A]

    Rachel perceives an interested intertextuality between Gen 12 and John 3.

    13 min
  • Exodus 24:12–18
    Jesus Cosplays Moses

    Lectionary Date: February 19, 2023 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year A]

    Tim proposes that this isn't about Jesus' divinity.

    13 min
  • Deuteronomy 30:15–20
    Looking Back at a Fork in the Road

    Lectionary Date: February 12, 2023 [6th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A]

    Rosy highlights the message of Moses's sermon for future audiences looking back.

    13 min
  • Psalm 112:1–9
    Ba-dum, Ba-dum, Ba-dum: The Rhythm of Life

    Lectionary Date: February 5, 2023 [5th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A]

    Rachel dives into the poetry of life in this week's psalm.

    15 min
  • Micah 6:1–8
    What Prophecy Is and Is Not

    Lectionary Date: January 29, 2023 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A]

    Guest host, Paul Essah (PhD student at Yale), hits the high points of this famous text.

    16 min
  • Isaiah 9:1–4
    Treasures Old and New

    Lectionary Date: January 22, 2023 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A]

    Rosy explores the interpretive backdrop of the NT reading with a review of Isaiah's 8th-century prophecy.

    18 min

About First Reading

From the publisher's feed

First Reading offers exegetical resources for the Old Testament Lectionary reading each week. Dr. Rachel Wrenn is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Capital…