Revised Common Lectionary Readings for February 15, 2026

Revised Common Lectionary Readings (Three-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, February 15, 2026

First Reading Exodus 24:12-18 12The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.” 15Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. Psalm Psalm 2 1   Why do the nations conspire,           and the peoples plot in vain? 2   The kings of the earth set themselves,           and the rulers take counsel together,           against the LORD and his anointed, saying, 3   “Let us burst their bonds asunder,           and cast their cords from us.” 4   He who sits in the heavens laughs;           the LORD has them in derision. 5   Then he will speak to them in his wrath,           and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6   “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.” 7   I will tell of the decree of the LORD:      He said to me, “You are my son;           today I have begotten you. 8   Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,           and the ends of the earth your possession. 9   You shall break them with a rod of iron,           and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 10  Now therefore, O kings, be wise;           be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11  Serve the LORD with fear,           with trembling 12 kiss his feet,      or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;           for his wrath is quickly kindled.      Happy are all who take refuge in him. Or alternate Psalm Psalm 99 1   The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble!           He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2   The LORD is great in Zion;           he is exalted over all the peoples. 3   Let them praise your great and awesome name.           Holy is he! 4   Mighty King, lover of justice,           you have established equity;      you have executed justice           and righteousness in Jacob. 5   Extol the LORD our God;           worship at his footstool.           Holy is he! 6   Moses and Aaron were among his priests,           Samuel also was among those who called on his name.           They cried to the LORD, and he answered them. 7   He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;           they kept his decrees,           and the statutes that he gave them. 8   O LORD our God, you answered them;           you were a forgiving God to them,           but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9   Extol the LORD our God,           and worship at his holy mountain;           for the LORD our God is holy. Second Reading 2 Peter 1:16-21 16For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Gospel Matthew 17:1-9 1Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202

Looking into the lectionary - For Ash Wednesday...

Matthew 4:1-11 First Sunday of Lent February 22, 2026 Jazz legend Louis Armstrong’s voice uniquely intones, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows but Jesus.” The author is unknown, but the song is attributed to the oral tradition of enslaved communities in the US. It is a testament to a people’s resilience in the face of great adversity and turmoil. The song is not a sorrow song but a song of joy that affirms Jesus’s solidarity with those who suffer. We are in the first week of Lent, which is a time of testing. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, when we are reminded of our own mortality, we enter the story alongside Jesus as he is lured into the wilderness to be tempted by an adversary. This year feels especially Lent-y to me, so it does not take too much imagination to feel like you’re in the desert, pondering the current state of our world. Our text from Matthew’s gospel tells us it is the Spirit who leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. This excursion immediately follows Jesus’s baptism, showing how the Spirit’s presence descending upon him compels him into a time of refinement before his ministry begins In Matthew’s Gospel, it is clear that the Spirit is the animating force of Jesus’s ministry. And rather than leading Jesus away from the chaos, the Spirit sends Jesus directly into it. How ironic that we pray, “lead us not into temptation,” when that is exactly what the Spirit does here! Jesus is tested in three places: the wilderness, the pinnacle of the temple, and a mountaintop. The wilderness was known as a place where evil spirits lurked. The apex of the temple speaks of a place of ultimate religious authority and worship, and the mountaintop is the sacred landscape of the Law. At each of these locations, Jesus is challenged: to make bread in the wilderness, to summon angels at the temple, and to worship the devil on the mountaintop. Each enticement would require Jesus to assert his power. However, each time, Jesus confidently responds to the tempter with Scripture. After the third rebuttal, the devil leaves. ... Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Thank you to this week's writer, Shea Watts. Want the worship resources for February 15, 2026? You can find them here. Order of worship — February 22, 2026 by Shea Watts Even now: an Ash Wednesday lament by Jennifer L. Aycock Empathy as resistance by Matthew Frease 40 community organizing actions you can practice during Lent by Shani Mcilwain IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Damned Whiteness: How White Christian Allies Failed the Black Freedom Movement "Damned Whiteness" is a sharp call to move beyond White allyship toward real, liberating action, writes Jessica Rigel. Conservative influencers don’t actually believe empathy is toxic Allie Beth Stuckey and Joe Rigney just want to make sure you're empathizing with those they deem worthy of empathy. — Elena Trueba Presbyterians advocate for Haitian neighbors as a federal judge blocks, for now, an end to temporary protective status From Springfield, Ohio, to Spokane, Washington, Presbyterians joined other people of faith to rally for their friends. — Cindy Corell Clipse: Survivor’s guilt and irresistible grace Chris Burton traces Clipse’s catalog as testimony — where survivor’s guilt, grace, and honesty refuse easy narratives. Our longing to be understood Teri McDowell Ott reflects on Leslie Jamison's “The Empathy Exams” to show that real empathy isn’t about fixing pain, but choosing to truly see and understand it. Maine clergy form spiritual ‘shield’ outside workplaces to protect immigrants from ICE Presbyterian clergy join an ecumenical coalition in Maine, forming a daily “spiritual shield” to stand with immigrant workers facing ICE enforcement. — Jack Jenkins Faith leaders gather in Washington, D.C. to urge Senate vote against DHS funding Faith In Action coalition of 40 faith-based organizations and dozens of denominations join in advocacy and action. — Gregg Brekke Celebrating Ash Wednesday on fraternity row Trip Porch and Indianola Presbyterian Church partner with fraternities at The Ohio State University to host an outdoor Ash Wednesday service. A daily Lenten devotional Explore how to live faithfully amid division and uncertainty through Matthew’s Gospel.

Cultivating Curiosity - Fostering Community During Montreat's Summer Worship Series

Montreat’s Summer Worship Series Fosters Community The following excerpt is from an article recently published in Montreat Conference Center’s 2025 Annual Report. We invite you to find the full article as shared in the report using the link below. Montreat Conference Center has long been a place where faith, creativity, and community intersect. For generations, it has served as a sacred space for spiritual renewal, theological exploration, and meaningful connection. Central to this mission is Montreat’s longstanding tradition of summer worship, a weekly seasonal gathering that draws people together year after year as they seek to increase their spiritual understanding and reconnect with the Montreat community… READ THE FULL ARTICLE Take a Spring Sabbath Getaway If you would like to make a trip to Montreat sans-schedule, we will soon begin accepting reservations for individual Spring Sabbath Getaways. This program allows you to plan a brief stay in Assembly Inn, where you can spend uninterrupted time in prayer, reflection, or study. Reservations open on Monday, February 23. More information will be available on our website in the coming weeks. Revitalize Your Spiritual Life Through Contemplation Join us April 7–10 and begin a contemplation practice during Discovering Renewal! Greg Durham and Kelley Weber will guide participants through time-honored practices like centering prayer, Lectio Divina, and the Enneagram with a goal of increasing your self-awareness and helping you feel more refreshed. Sign up here. Explore Celtic Wisdom Registration is currently open for our 2026 Earth & Soul Retreat. This year, John Philip Newell and Cami Twilling will lead “The Great Search 1,” the first in a new three-part series focused on the search for expanded vision, the search for intimacy with Earth, and the search for spiritual presence. Learn more about this program or make a plan to attend by clicking here. Try a New Spiritual Practice Each month, we plan to share a different spiritual practice that you can engage in while visiting our campus. This month, we would like to invite you to try “carrying a question.” Begin by choosing one gentle question to carry with you throughout your day. Here are a few examples: What new ideas might God be revealing to me? What might faithfulness look like in this moment? How can I show myself kindness? Rather than trying to force an immediate answer, practice trusting in the slow, tender work of God. Return to your question periodically throughout the day, remaining ever mindful of how God might be responding to you through the present moment. At the end of the day, practice releasing your concerns with a simple prayer such as: God, I place this question in your care. Additional information about spiritual practices can be found on our website using the link below! VISIT OUR SPIRITUALITY WEBPAGE One of Montreat Conference Center’s core values, “cultivating curiosity” refers to our belief in the dynamic life of the mind. This newsletter aims to support our ministry by providing opportunities for growth through the examination of beliefs and through engagement with Scripture, the world around us, the will of the Spirit. You can learn more about Montreat’s mission and values by clicking here.

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