The Lectionary.
A lectionary is a list of readings. As a spiritual discipline, a person may simply open The Bible at the beginning, and start reading. They might read a chapter or more each day. The weakness of this kind of reading is that it is the reading style of our time, the method for reading a novel, or even a text book. It assumes a narrative thread from beginning to end. However, a text book is often not read from cover to cover. It may be designed as a resource with discrete sections to be consulted at appropriate times.
The Bible is even less novel-like. With 39 "books" in the Hebrew Scriptures, and 27 in the Christian Scriptures, there are multiple authors, times, geographic locations, and theological perspectives represented. This considers only the main collection (Canon) of the books common to most Christian traditions. There are also the books not present in the Hebrew Scriptures or "Old Testament" which are often known as the deutero-canonical books. How does one read all this and make sense of it?
Christian groups have traditionally created lists of texts that are considered important to read. They sketch out some of the key planks of that group's tradition, and its understanding of the Christian faith.
One well known modern lectionary is the Revised Common Lectionary, which is used by many churches world wide. It divides the bible over a three year period, based around the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The readings are chosen to reflect the cycle of church year as it progresses from the hope for a Messiah (Advent), through Christmas, and on to Easter. Each week also has a reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Psalms, and from the letters of the New Testament. The Gospel of John is used in each year around the times of the major festivals. There are often readings assigned for special days which do not occur on a Sunday.
Many ministers preach from a lectionary. It provides a discipline which works against the temptation to avoid uncomfortable subjects and concentrate on favourite themes.
A lectionary provides an overview of the Christian tradition. Unfortunately, it also represents a particular theological and historical outlook. Some people point out, for example, that women's stories, often already marginalised in Scripture are further submerged by the RCL . The lectionary is also constructed of short readings, excerpts from the whole, so that some parts of the bible will never be read in public worship under this scheme. It also means that the wider flow of a narrative is interrupted, and perhaps divided in ways never anticipated by the authors. In their own devotions, many people will at least read from the end of the previous week's readings to the end of the designated readings of the current week, in some attempt to overcome this disintegration of the narrative.
Thanksgiving for a Child
Nice will be baptised when her family return to India. It will be a great celebration. In the meantime we used this prayer and action to give thanks for her life.
Thanksgiving for Nice
Let us pray:
This child has been born
grown for a single cell
dividing and dividing
atom, molecule and gene
following the pattern of ages
growing in the mystery
that leads to life
no longer cells
no longer part of her mother
life able to live alone
life given by God
life to live for God.
We thank you God for this child
surprise and wonder
hope for a future
burden of love for her parents
pride of her family
sign of the mystery of life. Amen
The Blessing:
(The elder holds the baby on the ground.)
Little child.
We hold you close to the earth.
May you be grounded and wise.
May you always remember you are of the earth
from earth, and returning to earth
child of the planet
hope for our future.
(The elder holds the baby high to the sky.)
Little child
we lift you to the sky.
May you be filled with dreams and wonder.
May you always seek a vision
for the best that may be made of life
for the love of all people
child of love
and hope for our future.
(The elder carries the child to the Communion Table, which is dressed for Communion later in the service.)
Little child
we carry you to the table.
May you discover the mystery of life
and find the power of God
filling the plain and ordinary things
upon which we build our lives.
May you live as a child of God
discovering the hope.
(The elder places the baby into the arms of her mother. She is carried from Mother to Father, held among the children, and finally placed in the arms of an elderly great grand mum who was seated among us.)
Little child
we pass you among the people.
Be held with the love of your mother
Know the love of your father
Be wonder and joy to the young
Be hope and remembrance to we who are old.
May our love enfold you
and show you the love of God.
May our touch comfort you
and teach you the love of God
May our hope inspire you
and fill your heart with hunger
seeking the love of God.
May it be so. Amen and Amen.
Andrew Prior
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