Year A – Proper 27
Full-text of the Appointed Lessons (RSV and NRSV), with instructions for lectors
24 Pentecost – November 8 – RCL
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
24 Pentecost (Proper 27), Year A, Nov. 8, 2026
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Both God and Joshua know the Israelites to be a flighty people, but they insist they will remain faithful to their God, Yahweh, who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They make a covenant to this effect.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of Joshua:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Joshua gathered…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.” But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “Nay; but we will serve the LORD.” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
New Revised Standard Version
Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many. Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.” But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD; for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve the LORD!” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” The people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
ILLUMINATION for the First Alternate First Lesson
24 Pentecost (Proper 27), Year A, Nov. 8, 2026
Wisdom 6:12-16
There is no shortcut to wisdom and understanding. Anyone can attain to it, but it does take persistence and hard work to glean it.
A reading (lesson) from the Wisdom of Solomon:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Wisdom is radiant…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. He who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and he who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
New Revised Standard Version
Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Alternate First Lesson
24 Pentecost (Proper 27), Year A, Nov. 8, 2026
Amos 5:18-24
The prophet warns those who place their hope of salvation in outward appearances rather than in pleasing God with righteous lives.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Amos:
(Lead in with) RSV: Thus says the Lord…; NRSV: Alas for you…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light; as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned with his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and cereal offerings, I will not accept them, and the peace offerings of your fatted beasts I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
New Revised Standard Version
Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
24 Pentecost (Proper 27), Year A, Nov. 8, 2026
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Unlike pagan teachings and practices surrounding those who have died, Paul’s message to the Thessalonians encourages them to understand that because of God in Christ, they too will be resurrected.
A reading (lesson) from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians:
(Lead in with) RSV: We would not have you…; NRSV: We do not want you…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
We would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
New Revised Standard Version
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
24 Pentecost (Proper 27), Year A, Nov. 8, 2026
Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus tells the parable of the wise and the foolish bridesmaids; though they all fall asleep, some have brought extra oil, and some have not come prepared.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jesus said, “The kingdom…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
24 Pentecost – November 8 – BCP
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
24 Pentecost (Proper 27), Year A, Nov. 8, 2026
Amos 5:18-24
The prophet Amos offers a sobering message — outward signs of religion don’t trick God into thinking we’re faithful, judgment for our sinful ways is real.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Amos:
(Lead in with) RSV: Thus says the Lord…; NRSV: Alas for you…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light; as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned with his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and cereal offerings, I will not accept them, and the peace offerings of your fatted beasts I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
New Revised Standard Version
Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
24 Pentecost (Proper 27), Year A, Nov. 8, 2026
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Unlike pagan teachings and practices surrounding those who have died, Paul’s message to the Thessalonians encourages them to understand that because of God in Christ, they too will be resurrected.
A reading (lesson) from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians:
(Lead in with) RSV: We would not have you…; NRSV: We do not want you…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
We would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
New Revised Standard Version
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
24 Pentecost (Proper 27), Year A, Nov. 8, 2026
Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus tells the parable of the wise and the foolish bridesmaids; though they all fall asleep, some have brought extra oil, and some have not come prepared.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jesus said, “The kingdom…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Living Word | Lectionary Preaching Aids
Exploring the Texts
“To fear God, then, is to revere, love, respect, and adore the source and giver of all life. Unfortunately, the wrong kind of fear and an incorrect understanding of God can foster a life of trepidation and caution, a life devoid of prudent risk and joy.”
“Only God can awaken this love, and he awakens love by giving it. Still, an open hand and an open heart must take it. Freely accepted, the oil of God is an abyss of love and desire and vigilance. He who endures to the end will be saved.”
“The parable is thus a warning. Even though the bridegroom seems delayed in coming, we need to take care to remain alert, prepared, and ready to meet him. For when he does arrive at an unexpected hour, there will not be time to make the preparations that we should have been making all along.”
Preaching Today
Amy Richter: How Should We Prepare for the Lord’s Return?
“If [Christ is] not coming to us in power and majesty anytime soon, we are all certainly going to him, and most likely in vulnerability and weakness and emptiness as we all do in death. So how do we get ready to welcome him, in either way, with great joy and readiness?”
Jenny Andison: Sacrificing Together and the Kingdom to Come
“We all have choices: a choice to respond to God’s love and mercy extended to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus (to put oil into our lamps now) or a choice to be busy by all means, but to not personally respond to the coming bridegroom.”
Mac Stewart: Anointed to Watch
“Jesus’ parable today reminds us that, one day, there will be a great wake-up call. The resounding blast of the trumpet will pierce through the haze of our drowsiness, and, like a thief in the night, the bridegroom whom we’ve been waiting for all our lives (even if we didn’t know it) will suddenly come knocking at the door.”
Classic Texts
John Donne: To Beat Down Their Confidence
“The woe and commination of our prophet had one aim, too beat down their scorn which derided the judgments of God in this world; and a second aim, to beat down their confidence, that thought themselves of themselves able to stand in God’s judgment in the next world.”
Thomas Aquinas: The Pattern of Our Resurrection
“Christ is the pattern of our resurrection in that Christ assumed flesh, and also rose embodied in flesh. Nor is Christ only the pattern; he is also the efficient cause of our resurrection, for the things done by Christ’s humanity were done not only by the power of his human nature, but also by virtue of his divinity united in him.”
George Whitefield: This Night You Are to Go Forth
“Watch, watch, and pray for the Lord Jesus will receive all that call upon him faithfully. Let that cry, ‘Behold the Bridegroom comes,’ be continually sounding in your ears; and begin now to live as though you were assured that this night you are to go forth to meet him.”
Articles on the Kingdom of Heaven
Elizabeth Baumann: Of Such is the Kingdom of Heaven
“After all, the very God we’re in church for became a little child. How deprived is our faith if there aren’t little children in our midst to remind us how vulnerable he became for our sake? He set a child in their midst and said they must become like one of these. How can we appreciate what that means if there are no real children to show us?”
Richard Kew: An Earthly and a Heavenly Citizen
“But for those of us who are citizens of God’s kingdom, patriotism is about much more than getting dewy-eyed when we see the flag. It is about how each of us brings the light of Christ to an increasingly secular and hostile society. We yearn for God to bless the United States of America and make it a force for good in the world.”
Zachary Guiliano: Eclipsing the Heavens
“Past generations stood in abject wonder at the apparently eternal yet ever errant heavens; they wrote great myths to explain them, and were even moved to worship. The pregnant phrase of St. John the Divine, I saw a great portent in heaven, expressed no unusual sentiment.”
Articles on Wisdom
Armando Ghinaglia: The End of All Our Exploring
“In the modern period, it is common to contrast the claims of faith and those of reason, and so exclude a Christian account of reality. But in the New Testament, the principal dichotomy is between faith and sight. In adopting this dichotomy, we may observe that to start our exploration of wisdom with God in Christ is to begin with what emphatically is, even though we cannot see our end with our eyes in this life.”
Mac Stewart: Jerusalem the Golden
“I wonder if you ever pray to Jerusalem. You would be in good company if you do. St. Augustine regularly made that ‘chaste city’ the object of his direct address. He speaks of it as the first of all God’s creatures, the luminous angelic company that as ‘created wisdom’ has cleaved from the beginning to the uncreated Wisdom that is its source.”
Mac Stewart: St. Basil’s Wisdom on Community
“In the body of Christ there are no spiritual resumes. We act as one organism in the world. If I am sitting beside a man as he dies, I can count on my brother to look after the hospitality at the house. If you are instructing the uninstructed, you can count on your sister to pray for the living and the dead.”
Articles on Keeping Awake
Elisabeth Kincaid: Watch with Me
“In the Garden, as we struggle to stay awake along with the disciples, we confront not just our sins, but our finitude. The problem is not only that we desire and choose wrongly. Rather, in the failure of the disciples to watch with Christ in the Garden, we encounter the limits implicit in our very humanity that at times make it impossible to choose well.”
Christopher Wells: Sursum Corda
“Human beings are made for worship of God: at once, to repent and acclaim his glorious name, and to bow before him in gratitude. The basic posture of penitence and praise provides a liturgical proof, a law of prayer, for hearts in need of awakening.”
Federico Serra Lima: The Awakening of Aquinas
“Reason cannot lead us to the actual knowledge of God. Even apophatic language, useful as it is, cannot take us there. We are left bereft of a framework of reference. There is a hopeless gap between the world of words and the world of reality.”
