THEOLOGICAL CLUE

In older Lutheran Lectionaries, the readings for the last three Sundays, no matter how many Sundays there were in the Trinity/Pentecost season, all dealt with eschatological themes and the last things; they warned the church of the impending conclusion of Pentecost, as well as the Parousia. That sort of warning - that the end of the year and the end time are approaching - is not sounded in the new lectionaries (with the exception of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod's Lutheran Worship), but it probably is not needed. When the numbering of the Sundays after Pentecost reaches, "twenty-plus," and when All Saints' Sunday is behind, and when the Gregorian calendar is approaching the middle of the month, Christ the King Sunday and Advent, with their unmistakable announcement…