The Revised Common Lectionary is a three-year cycle of weekly readings used to varying degrees by the vast majority of mainline Protestant churches in Canada and the United States. The RCL is designed around the seasons of the Church Year, and includes four readings for each Sunday, as well as additional readings occasionally. Most of the year the scripture readings include a verse(s) from the Hebrew Bible, a Psalm, a reading from the Epistles, and a Gospel. During the season of Easter, the Hebrew Bible scripture is usually replaced with one from the Acts of the Apostles. The readings from the Hebrew Bible are sometimes chosen from the Apocrypha.
The seasons of the Church Year reflect the life of Christ. Consequently, the gospel lections for each Sunday provide the focus for that day (week). The other lections for a given day (week) generally have a thematic relationship to the gospel reading for that day, although this is not always the case.
The gospel readings for each year come from one of the synoptic gospels according to the following pattern:
The seasons of the Church Year reflect the life of Christ. Consequently, the gospel lections for each Sunday provide the focus for that day (week). The other lections for a given day (week) generally have a thematic relationship to the gospel reading for that day, although this is not always the case.
The gospel readings for each year come from one of the synoptic gospels according to the following pattern:
- Year A - Matthew
- Year B - Mark
- Year C - Luke
