Several years ago I undertook to comment on the daily lessons from the lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer. It was a good discipline for me and some people seemed to have appreciated the work. A few months ago I decided to do that again for the next two years as the readings are arranged in a two year cycle. I had hoped that my church's website would be updated to allow me to post the commentary there but, alas, we aren't quite prepared to do that and I have already begun the writing, so I wanted to post them here.
A little background is in order. The lessons for each day include a reading from the Psalms, either a portion of a Psalm, a Psalm or several Psalms. There are also lessons from the Old Testament (or the Apocrypha), an Epistle reading, and a reading from one of the Gospels.
I was once taught that the lectionary should flow in a certain way. The epistle reading should give the theological basis for the Old and New Testament readings. I read Scripture as a single, united message not at conflict with itself but with the Gospel teaching of Jesus, either in word or deed, as a fuller exposition of the law. I believe it to be my task in preaching and teaching to show that the Bible is a seamless garment, its teachings consistent from beginning to end. Article 7 of the Articles of Religion establishes this as an Anglican principle - "The Old Testament is not contrary to the New, for in both the Old and New Testaments eternal life is offered to mankind through Christ. Hence he, being both God and man, is the only mediator between God and man. Those who pretend that the Patriarchs only looked for transitory promises must not be listened to. Although the law given by God through Moses is not binding on Christians as far as its forms of worship and ritual are concerned and the civil regulations are not binding on any nation state, nevertheless no Christian is free to disobey those commandments which may be classified as moral."
In my commentary on the readings I follow this principle. The first paragraph is comment on the Old Testament reading, the second on the Gospel and the third paragraph comment on the Epistle. I use a portion of the Psalm as a prayer to end the commentary.
Regarding the Psalms, there are actually Psalm readings appointed for both morning and evening each day and I have chosen only to include the reading for the morning. The morning and evening pattern relates to the offices of Morning and Evening Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer also contains the entire collection of Psalms or the Psalter (which can be accessed here). Within the Psalter, the Psalms are divided into sixty reading portions which allows one to read through the entire Psalter monthly. The divisions are indicated by means of headings such as: First Day: Morning Prayer. If you would like to add the discipline of reading the Psalms monthly, the link above provides that information.
Regarding the Old Testament and Apocrypha readings, I will provide links to those readings at Bible Gateway. For the daily lessons I will include the Apocrypha readings. The 39 Articles of Religion state the following about reading from the Apocrypha: (they are) read for example of life and instruction of manners but they are not used to establish doctrine. To the extent that they conform to the doctrine established in the 66 books recognized by all as the Old and New Testament, they are useful, wherever they may be used to establish doctrine not in agreement with these canonical books, they fall to the ground.
Regarding the epistles and Gospel, sometimes the lessons omit parts of these books. Sometimes the omission is nothing more than lists of names and at other times the omission is because the passage points to some doctrine or teaching the compilers would prefer to avoid. I am choosing to restore those passages to our reading in keeping with Paul's word to Timothy, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3.16-17)
If you have comments or questions, feel free to send email to john@spc-asheville.org
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