Jesus laid out another parable before the crowd: “The realm of the heavens is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in their field. Indeed it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” ~Matthew 13:31-32
Translation: The Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney, from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A.

Image: Anonymous, Parable of the Mustard Seed, a painted window at the YMCA training center for German leadership in Kassel, Germany. Circa: 2000. Photo by tin.G. From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55890 [retrieved May 29, 2026]. Original source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tin-g/90272565.

WOMB OF LIFE, my heart is not lifted up,
nor my eyes exalted;
I do not keep company with things
great and too wondrous for me.
Rather, I have soothed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with her mother;
my soul is like a weaned child within me.
Israel, hope in the WELLSPRING OF LIFE
from now until forever.
~Psalm 131:1-3
Translation: The Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney, from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A.

Image: Joó, Zoltán. Holy Trinity, painted coffered ceiling (Public Art) in the doorway of the Holy Spirit Church, Veresegyház, Hungary. from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57916 [retrieved May 26, 2026]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coffered_ceiling_by_Zolt%C3%A1n_Jo%C3%B3,_Holy_Spirit_Church,_2019_Veresegyh%C3%A1z.jpg.

Image: Isaac Helgeson-Roode, Radial Design, block cut, 2026. Used with permission of the artist.

To the CREATOR OF ALL belongs the earth and all that fills her,
the world, and those who dwell in her.
~Psalm 24:1

Gafney, Wilda . A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year A.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
    making wise the simple…
~Psalm 19:7

Jesus said to [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even though they die, they will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
~John 11:25-26

Gafney, Wilda . A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year A.

Image: Vincent Van Gogh, “The Raising of Lazarus” (1890, in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France), Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Public Domain.

The same day [that Jesus taught about taxes] some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they questioned him…
~Matthew 22:23

Gafney, Wilda . A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year A.

James Tissot, 1836-1902. The Pharisees and the Sadducees Come to Tempt Jesus, (1886-1894),Brooklyn Museum, New York City, NY, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59094 [retrieved March 26, 2026]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Pharisees_and_the_Saduccees_Come_to_Tempt_Jesus_(Les_pharisiens_et_les_saduc%C3%A9ens_viennent_pour_tenter_J%C3%A9sus)_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpg.

Jesus presented himself to them, living, after his suffering through many convincing proofs, by appearing to them forty days and speaking about the reign of God.
~Acts 1:3

The root of wisdom is to reverence the Holy One,
and her branches are length of days.
~Sirach 1:20

Gafney, Wilda . A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year A.

Image: Leonard Nimoy, Shekhina, Photograph, 93-4, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54186 [retrieved March 26, 2026]. Original source: www.RMichelson.com -- courtesy R. Michelson.

And within eight days his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though the doors were shut, and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you all.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Bring your hand and put it in my side and do not doubt, rather believe.” Thomas answered him, saying, “My Savior and my God!”
~John 20:26-28

Gafney, Wilda . A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year A (p. 301). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Image: Thomas Touches Jesus’ Side (Anonymous), 10th Century, Ivory carving, Bode-Museum, Berlin, Germany, http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=58937.

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And look! There was a great earthquake, for a messenger of God, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. Its appearance was like lightning, and its clothing white as snow. For fear of the messenger, the guards shook and were as though dead. But the messenger responded to the women and said, “Fear not; I know that you all are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, just as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
~Matthew 28:1-6

Gafney, Wilda . A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year A (p. 259). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Image: Hildreth M. Meiere, Mosaic of the Resurrection, 1951, Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D. C., detail, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55307 [retrieved January 29, 2026]. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurapadgett/2533189887/.

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
~Matthew 27:11-14, NRSVUE

Image: Lorenzo Lotto, 1480?-1556?. Chris Carrying the Cross, detail, 1526, The Louvre, Paris, France; from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55454 [retrieved January 29, 2026]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lorenzo_Lotto_-_Christ_Carrying_the_Cross_(detail)_-_WGA13694.jpg.

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and blessing it, he broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. I tell you all, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you all in the realm of my Abba.”
~Matthew 26:26-29

Translation: Gafney, Wilda . A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year A (p. 219). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Image: John August Swanson, Last Supper, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56552 [retrieved January 29, 2026]. Original source: Estate of John August Swanson, https://www.johnaugustswanson.com/.

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that were going before him and the one following were shouting, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Holy One!
Hosanna in the highest! ”

~Matthew 21:8-9

Translation: Gafney, Wilda . A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year A (p. 186). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Image: Koenig, Peter. Palm Sunday, 20th century, United Kingdom, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=58531 [retrieved January 29, 2026]. Original source: Peter Winfried (Canisius) Koenig, https://www.pwkoenig.co.uk/.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise…”
~Matthew 25:1-2

Image: Schadow, Friedrich Wilhelm von, 1789-1862. Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, detail, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54277 [retrieved January 29, 2026]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schadow,FW-Die_klugen_und_t%C3%B6richten_Jungfrauen-2.JPG.

Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.
~Matthew 26:6-7

* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: Ceballos Fernández, Lázaro A.. La Uncíón, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59864 [retrieved January 29, 2026]. Original source: Beth Maczka, Beth@BethMaczka.com.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same…”
~Matthew 20:1-5

Image: Millet, Jean François, 1814-1875. In the Vineyard, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=50342 [retrieved January 29, 2026]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Millet_-_In_the_Vineyard_-_17.1487_-_Museum_of_Fine_Arts.jpg.

While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his siblings were standing outside, seeking to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your siblings are standing outside, seeking to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus said, “Who is my mother, and who are my siblings?” And pointing his hand to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my siblings! For whoever does the will of my Abba in the heavens is my mother and sister and brother.”
~Matthew

* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: McGough, Mary Charles. Holy Family, 1988, Duluth, MN, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57944 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/clairity/14078166867.

 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”
~Matthew 21:28-31

Image: Mironov, Andreĭ (Andreĭ Nikolaevich), 1975-. Parable of the Two Sons, 2013, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57607 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: Please search Wikimedia commons for the source.

…I say to you all that if you are angry with a sister or brother, you will be liable to judgment, and if you call a sister or brother an idiot, you will be subject to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be subject to the hell of fire.
~Matthew 5:22

* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: James, Laura. Sermon on the Mount, 2010, New York, NY, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57891 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: Laura James, https://www.laurajamesart.com/collections/religious/.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow…”
~Matthew 13:1-3

Image: Gogh, Vincent van, 1853-1890. Sower at Sunset, 1888, painting, Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, Netherlands, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57797 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Van_Gogh_-_S%C3%A4mann_bei_untergehender_Sonne.jpeg.

When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
~Matthew 14:15-16

* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: Swanson, John August. Loaves and Fishes, 2003, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56553 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: Estate of John August Swanson, https://www.johnaugustswanson.com/.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] consume and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
~Matthew 6:19-21

Image: Attribution various - Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn or Gerard Dou. Parable of the hidden treasure, painting, ca. 1630 CE, Esterhazy Castle, Budapest, Hungary, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55010 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parable_of_the_hidden_treasure_Rembrandt_-_Gerard_Dou.jpg.

The SOVEREIGN God crafted the human from the dust of the humus and breathed into its nostrils the breath of life, and the human became a living soul. And the SOVEREIGN God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there placed the human whom God had formed.
~Genesis 2:7-8
Translation: Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A.

Image: Monet, Claude, 1840-1926. Artist's Garden at Giverny, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57338 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Artist%27s_Garden_at_Giverny_by_Claude_Monet_1900.jpeg.

Jesus said, “Now, beware of practicing your justness before other people in order to be seen by them; surely, lest you have no reward from your Creator in heaven.
~Matthew 6:1
Translation: Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A.

Image: Praying hands, courtesy of wallpaperaccess.com.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light.
~Matthew 17:1-2

* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: Transfiguration of Christ, 1600’s CE, Benaki Museum, Athans, Greece, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56416 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Transfiguration_-_Google_Art_Project_(715792).jpg.

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples.
~Matthew 9:18-19
* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: Jesus Raises Girl to Life, National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland, Metal relief sculpture, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55237 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/feargal/6410830967/.

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
~Isaiah 42:1

* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: Purification of Isaiah, Amiens Cathedral, Stone relief sculpture, 1220-1240 CE, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=29239 [retrieved January 23, 2026]. Original source: image donated by Jim Womack and Anne Richardson.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the reign of God and curing every disease and every malady among the people.
~Matthew 4:23

* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, Anonymous, 521-547 CE, from Saint Appolinaire Nuovo Basilica, Ravenna, Italy; from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59393 [retrieved December 14, 2025]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christus_Ravenna_Mosaic.jpg.

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
~Isaiah 9:2

* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: Coventry Cathedral - John Piper's baptistery window, Stained Glass, 1956-1962, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54907 [retrieved December 14, 2025]. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer/2426416488/.

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’ ”

~Matthew 3:1-3

* Scripture Translation is from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney.

Image: Valente, Liz. Baptism of Jesus, Drawing, 2021, Church of Vicosa, Vicosa, Brazil, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59319 [retrieved December 14, 2025]. Original source: Liz Valente, https://www.instagram.com/donalizvalente/.