Lectionary 32, Year A
Proper 27 The Sunday between November 6 and November 12 Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, the year of Matthew Green
Next read on .
The Gospel: Matthew 25:1–13
The parable of ten young women waiting with lamps for a bridegroom, five of whom run out of oil and are shut out of the wedding feast.
What is going on
In his last week, Jesus tells several stories about waiting for him to come back. This is one of them.
Ten young women wait at night with lamps to welcome a bridegroom. He is late. Five brought extra oil and five did not.
While the five go to buy oil, the bridegroom arrives and the door to the feast is shut. Jesus ends with: keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Matthew 25:1-13
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24
Through Amos, God warns that the day of the LORD will be darkness, rejects the people’s feasts and songs, and calls for justice to roll like rivers.
Read it here
The text appointed for this first reading isn’t in our library in this translation. Shown here is the Revised Common Lectionary’s own alternate: Amos.
18 “Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; Or he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him. 20 Won’t the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it? 21 I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can’t stand your solemn assemblies. 22 Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Wisdom of Solomon 6:17-20 or Psalm 70
An urgent cry for God to hurry and help, from one who is poor and needy.
Read it here
The text appointed for this psalm isn’t in our library in this translation. Shown here is the Revised Common Lectionary’s own alternate: Psalms.
1 Hurry, God, to deliver me. Come quickly to help me, the LORD. 2 Let them be disappointed and confounded who seek my soul. Let those who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 3 Let them be turned because of their shame who say, “Aha! Aha!” 4 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation continually say, “Let God be exalted!” 5 But I am poor and needy. Come to me quickly, God. You are my help and my deliverer. O LORD, don’t delay.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Paul tells the Thessalonians not to grieve without hope for those who have died, because God will raise them and all will be with the Lord forever.
Read it here
13 But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Some congregations follow the RCL’s other track this Sunday, which reads an Old Testament book straight through over several weeks: Joshua 24:1–3a, 14–25 and Psalm 78:1–7 in place of the first reading and psalm above.
A question to carry into the week
What helps you keep watch when waiting feels long?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
These readings are told as stories on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
Lectionary 32 (Proper 27) · Revised Common Lectionary, Year A · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.