Lectionary Year C, Saint Luke
Year B, the year of Saint Mark’s Gospel in the Sunday cycle of readings, ends with the 34th and last Sunday of the church year, the feast of Christ the King, The new church year—Year C, Saint Luke’s Gospel—begins with the First Sunday of Advent. Below is the distribution of Saint Luke’s Gospel throughout Year C.
Transitional Passages (Luke 3:11—4:30): The beginning of the gospel and John the Baptist is proclaimed on the Second Sunday of Advent (Luke 3:1-6), John the Baptist’s preaching to special groups on the Third Sunday of Advent (Luke 3:10-14), the baptism of Jesus at prayer on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Luke 3:21-22). We continue with the wedding feast at Cana on Sunday 2 in Ordinary Time (John 2:1-12), the temptation of Jesus on the First Sunday of Lent (Luke 4:1-13), Jesus’ first preaching in Galilee on Sunday 3 in Ordinary Time (Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21), Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth (Luke 4:21-30).
The Galilean Ministry of Jesus (Luke 5:1—9:36): On Sundays 5 to 9 of Ordinary Time in the winter and Sundays 10-14 of Ordinary Time in summer, we hear the miraculous catch of fish and the call of the first disciples, preaching, many healings, and the first prediction of the Passion and conditions for discipleship. On the Second Sunday of Lent we hear Luke’s account of the Transfiguration.
Travel Narrative—Part I: Qualities Jesus Demands of His Followers (Luke 9:51—14:33): On Sundays 13-23 of Ordinary Time in the summer, we hear the nature of discipleship, sending out and return of the 70, the Good Samaritan, Martha and Mary, the Lord’s Prayer, the rich fool, the servant’s wages, not peace but division, exclusion from the kingdom, humility, the cost of discipleship.
Lost and Found: the Gospel within the Gospel (Luke 15): On Sunday 24 we hear of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son.
Travel Narrative—Part II: Obstacles Facing Jesus’ Followers (Luke 16:1—18:14): On Sundays 25-30 of Ordinary Time in autumn, we hear of the unjust steward, the rich man and Lazarus, the servants’ wages, the healing of the ten lepers, the unjust judge, the Pharisee and the publican.
Ministry in Jerusalem (Luke 19:1—21:36): On Sundays 31 to 33 of Ordinary Time in November and the First Sunday of Advent, we hear the story of Zacchaeus, the entry into Jerusalem (moved to Palm Sunday), the question about resurrection, prediction about the destruction of the temple, signs of the parousia, beginnings of the troubles, redemption and the parousia of the Son of Man, conclusion of the discourse—Keep Watch!
The Passion of Christ: The Great Reconciliation: On Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, we hear Luke’s telling of the Passion story, (Luke 22:14—23:56). On the Thirty-Fourth and last Sunday of the church year, Christ the King, we hear of the repentant thief, in Paradise—today! (Luke 23:35-43)
ADVENT / CHRISTMAS
BLOCK A—#1-Advent: images of Isaiah; Come, O Lord, set us free
Sunday 1 – the second coming: Keep Watch!
Sunday 2 – John the Baptist proclaimed
Sunday 3 – rejoice (see reading 2); John preaches to various groups
Sunday 4 – incarnation – Mary visits Elizabeth
–Immaculate Conception, December 8
–O Antiphons begin,
–Parish penance service
–Anointing of the Sick
BLOCK B—#2-Christmas: incarnation; nativity
Christmas Eve and Day (December 24, 25)
Holy Family (Sunday after Christmas, unless that is January 1)
Mary, Mother of God (January 1, the octave of Christmas)
Epiphany (Sunday after the Octave of Christmas)
Baptism of the Lord (Sunday after Epiphany, unless Epiphany falls on the 7th or 8th of January, in which case Baptism moves to the Monday after Epiphany)
ORDINARY TIME IN WINTER
#3, OT Winter—Day after Baptism of the Lord through Shrove Tuesday
BLOCK C—Transitional Passages
Sunday 2 – wedding feast in Galilee
Sundays 3-4 – Jesus preaching in Galilee, rejection in Nazareth
–Presentation of the Lord – proper with Christmas elements
BLOCK D—The Galilean Ministry of Jesus
Sundays 5-9 – Jesus preaches, teaches and heals
–Carnival Sunday – final alleluias, burning of palms
LENT
BLOCK E—#4, Ash Wednesday through Spy Wednesday
Ash Wednesday and next three days – solemn prelude
Sunday 1 through Saturday 4 – penance
Sunday 5 on – attention becomes focused on the passion of Christ
The last days, called Holy Week – intensification of third phase
–Rite of Sending / Penitential Rite for Candidates / Scrutinies
–Joseph, Spouse of Mary – March 19
–Annunciation of the Lord – March 25
–Parish penance service
–Anointing of the Sick
–Stations of the Cross
–Tenebrae
SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM
Center and climax of the year
EASTER
BLOCK F—#5, Easter Sunday through Pentecost
Octave: The first eight days lift us into the alleluia of the next 42 days. The tradition of post-baptismal formation during this time influenced the composition of liturgical texts and the selection of scriptural passages.
The 31 middles days: The gospels of the Sundays give strong color to Eastertime. The first three Sundays of Easter relate post-resurrection appearances. The Fourth Sunday always focuses on the powerful image of the Good Shepherd. The next two Sundays of the season draw from Jesus’ preaching in the gospel according to John. These paschal references and the overall appreciation of the Fifty Days’ unity should not allow excess attention May as “Mary’s month.” The paschal season can include references and hymns to Mary, but they do not dominate.
The final days – the Pentecost novena, Ascension, Pentecost, end of Easter
–First Holy Communion
–Divine Mercy Devotion
–May Crowning
–Memorial Day (unless in summer block)
ORDINARY TIME IN SUMMER
#6—OT, Summer—Monday after Pentecost to Exaltation of the Cross
BLOCK G–Summer Solemnities and Holidays:
–Trinity Sunday (Sunday after Pentecost)
–Body and Blood of the Lord (Sunday after Trinity)
–Sacred Heart (Friday after Body and Blood of the lord)
–Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24)
–Peter and Paul, Apostles (June 29)
–Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6)
–Assumption
National Days:
–Memorial Day (unless in Easter block)
–Independence Day (July 4 – unless it falls on a Sunday)
–Labor Day (first Monday in September)
BLOCK H—The Galilean Ministry of Jesus Continues
Sundays 10-12
BLOCK I—Travel Narrative—Part I: Qualities Jesus Demands of His Followers (nature of discipleship / prayer)
Sundays 13-17
BLOCK J—Travel Narrative—Part I: Qualities Jesus Demands of His Followers (parables / cost of discipleship)
Sundays 18-23
ORDINARY TIME IN AUTUMN
#6—OT, Autumn—Exaltation of the Cross through October
BLOCK K—Lost and Found (Sunday 24)
Travel Narrative—Part II: Obstacles facing Jesus’ Followers
Sundays 25-30
–Exaltation of the Cross with Exposition and Veneration of the Cross
–Patronal Solemnity – St. Simon and St. Jude
ORDINARY TIME IN NOVEMBER
#8—OT November—All Saints till Advent
BLOCK L—Ministry in Jerusalem
Sundays 31-33
Sunday 34 – The Passion of Christ: The Great Reconciliation / Christ the King
–All Saints (November 1)
–All Souls (November 2)
–Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome (November 9)
–Thanksgiving