The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), the three-year cycle of scripture readings (four readings per Sunday, usually one from the Hebrew Scriptures, one psalm, one epistle passage, and one Gospel passage) followed by many Mainline Protestant churches/denominations as well as the Roman Catholic Church, leaves a lot to be desired— especially during Advent. While it is a good goal to encourage broad usage of scripture, and to guide preachers into areas that may not be as comfortable as others, there are some serious issues in the actual line-up of suggested readings.

Advent has long been a season that has caused deep consternation for me, when it comes to following the lectionary. In recent years, I have chosen to leave the Advent RCL readings behind and chart my own path. Although Advent is generally understood to be a time of preparing for both the birth of Jesus as well as Christ’s return, there’s remarkably little offered in terms of actual pregnancy. Sure, there’s not a lot of scripture devoted to stories of pregnancy, even Mary’s. But, the Bible is certainly not devoid of such stories. So, where are they in the lectionary? Why are they largely ignored? Especially in the season that leads us straight to a birth??

In Year A of the RCL, preachers and parishioners must wait until the fourth and final week to get a scripture passage that focuses on the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25). A small part of Mary’s pregnancy narrative is one reading in the fourth and final week of Year B. And, adding to the insult, churches may use Mary’s Song of Praise (Magnificat) as the Psalm for that same week, but only the song itself. The RCL committee, in its supposed wisdom, cuts out the parts that identify the speaker and the context. In Year C, it’s once again a big wait until the fourth week, with the story of Mary visiting her pregnant kinswoman Elizabeth (pregnant with John the Baptist) and during that visit offering her song of praise.

Four whole weeks of Advent with a total of sixteen readings for each year and only ONE of those readings focused on pregnancy? What’s going on here?

Again, I realize there’s not a lot. Still, there is some excellent material, especially in Luke. Luke covers the circumstances around Elizabeth’s pregnancy before Mary goes to visit with Elizabeth and stay with her. Luke also shares the story of Elizabeth giving birth and the story of the naming of the child (there is a story here!). Matthew spends the first part of his Gospel covering the genealogy of Jesus and that genealogy involves quite a few interesting women— all of them going through the experience of pregnancy and giving birth.

This important season leads us to reconnect with what it means for God not only to take on human flesh and to dwell among us, but to take on that flesh in the form of a vulnerable infant who grew in a woman’s womb and was then born just like most other babies are born. It is an outrage that we Christians are not spending more time with pregnancy and birth in our worship lives, especially during Advent.

One of the most compelling of the early stories is the visit of Elizabeth, a much older woman who thought she would never have a child but is then surprised (like Sarah) to find herself pregnant with someone who would grow into a person of great significance, and Mary, a much younger woman who takes on a pregnancy, with someone of greater significance, even though she is not married. These women stay with each other for three months, during the last months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, and in the early to mid stage of Mary’s pregnancy. I’m sure I’m not the only woman to have found that it is an amazing experience to be pregnant at the same time as a friend, moving through the indignities of pregnancy along with the wonders of new life. That spirit of companionship offers a valuable lens for exploration and reflection, regardless of whether or not one has personally experienced pregnancy.

It’s about time that churches, church leaders, and denominations— not to mention the Revised Common Lectionary Committee— incorporate these stories into the lectionary. While it will be challenging to wade through the profoundly difficult reality of those whose pregnancy stories are full of heartbreak, these stories are too important to continue to ignore.