Peace and Justice throughout the Christian Year

More and more churches are following the Christian Year. Numerous worship resources are available for observing the seasons of the Christian liturgical calendar. Beginning with Advent and concluding with Pentecost, the Christian Year is a liturgical journey through the life of Jesus. Three-year cycles of lectionary readings are available which follow the Christian Year.

Preaching on peace and justice is important throughout the liturgical year. The lectionary readings for the liturgical year are filled with texts appropriate for preaching on peace and justice. For preachers, worship leaders, and congregations who want to emphasize peace and justice throughout the year, and not simply on Peace Sunday, a list of themes and lectionary scripture texts for the various Sundays of Advent and Christmas have been listed below. Lectionary texts for the rest of the Christian Year will be forthcoming.

Peace and Justice Texts from the Revised Common Lectionary

Advent and Christmas- Advent is a season of anticipation and hope for the coming of the Christ, the messiah of God's peace. The lectionary texts for this season celebrate the incarnation, Christ's coming in humanity, and the eschaton, Christ's coming in the consummation of all things. The nativity stories should be read in their original political context, as subversive stories presenting Jesus as an alternative to the divine Lord Caesar. The eschatological and apocalyptic readings remind us of the birth pangs of a new heaven and earth recreated with justice and peace.

Advent

	Isaiah's vision of peace (Isaiah 2:1-5, Advent 1, Year A).
	Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122, Advent 1, Year A).
	The Shoot of Jesse will judge the poor with justice, the meek with equity, and the wolf will lie down with the lamb (Isaiah 11:1-10, Advent 2, Year A).
	May the king judge the poor with justice, deliver the needy, and crush the oppressor (Psalm 72:1-7, 18-18, Advent 2, Year A).
	Welcome one another, even "outsiders" (Romans 5:4-13, Advent 2, Year A).
	Change! For the reign of God is near (Matt. 3:1-12, Advent 2, Year A).
	God executes justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, sets the prisoner free, watches over strangers, and upholds orphans and widows (Psalm 146:5-10, Advent 3, Year A).
	Mary's song of God's economic and political reversal (Luke 1:47-55, Advent 3, Year A).
	Nonviolent patience with one another (James 5:7-10, Advent 3, Year A).
	Jesus, messiah for the marginalized and poor (Matt. 11:2-11, Advent 3, Year A).
	A greeting of peace (1 Co. 1:3-9, Advent 1, Year B).
	Announcing liberty to the captives (Isaiah 40:1-11, Advent 2, Year B).
	Justice and peace will kiss each other (Psalm 85:1-2,8-13, Advent 2, Year B).
	A new heaven and earth of justice (2 Peter 3: 8-15a, Advent 2, Year B).
	The Spirit is upon the Servant to preach the gospel to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners (Isaiah 60:1-4, 8-11, Advent 3, year B).
	Do not despise the words of prophets (1 Thessalonians. 5:6-14, Advent 3, Year B).
	The Branch of David will execute justice (Jeremiah 33:14-16, Advent 1, Year C).
	Jesus will guide our feet in the way of peace (Luke 1:68-79, Advent 2, Year C).
	God will deal with our oppressors, save the lame, and gather the outcast (Zephaniah 3:14-20, Advent 3, Year C).
	Let your gentleness be known to everyone (Philippians 4:4-7, Advent 3, Year C).
	Share your food and clothing (Luke 3:7-18, Advent 3, Year C).
	The messiah will be the one of peace (Micah 5:2-5a, Advent 4, Year C).
	Mary's song of the poor (Luke 1:46b-55, Advent 4, Year C).

	Warrior boots and bloody garments will be burned when the Prince of Peace comes (Isaiah 9:2-7, Nativity of Our Lord, Proper 1, Year A, Christmas Day, Year B, C).
	God is Ruler and will judge the nations with equity (Psalm 96, Nativity of Our Lord, Proper 1, Year A).
	Peace on earth (Luke 2:1-20, Nativity of Our Lord, Proper 1 and 2, Year A, Christmas Day, Year B).
	God is Ruler and righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne (Psalm 97, Nativity of Our Lord, Proper 2, Year A, Christmas Day, Proper 2, Year C).
	Beautiful are the feet of the messenger who brings good news of peace (Isaiah 52:7-10, Christmas Day, Proper 3, Year A & C).
	God will judge the world with justice and the peoples with equity (Psalm 98, Christmas Day, Proper 3, Year A, Christmas Day, Proper 1 & 3, Year C).
	Jesus, a refugee from Herod's violence (Matthew 2:13-23, First Sunday after Christmas, Year A).
	God give you peace (Numbers 6:22-27, Holy Name of Jesus, Jan. 1, Year A & C).
	You are no longer a slave, but a child (Galatians 4:4-7, Holy Name of Jesus, Jan. 1, Year A).
	Every tongue should confess Jesus is Lord, not Caesar (Philippians 2:5-11, Holy Name of Jesus, Jan. 1, Year A, B, C).
	Marginalized shepherds go to see Christ Child (Luke 2:15-21, Holy Name of Jesus, Jan. 1, Year A, B, C, Christmas Day, Proper 1 & 2, Year C).
	There is a time for peace (Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, New Year's Day, Year A, B, C).
	New heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1-6a, New Year's Day, Year A, B, C).
	Christ's final judgment is based upon our response to the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and prisoners (Matthew 25:3-46, New year's Day, Year A, B, C).
	God will gather the handicapped and vulnerable from across the earth (Jeremiah 31:7-14, Second Sunday after Christmas, Year A).
	Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts (Colossians 3:12-17, First Sunday after Christmas, Year C).
	God grants peace within your borders (Psalm 147:12-20, Second Sunday after Christmas, Year C).