Lectionaries and stuff


Abstract:
Some interesting stuff on the history of lectionaries here.

Body:
I didn't realize that the use of lectionaries went back so far.

I have found using the lectionary to be a good spiritual discipline. Now that I am in my fourth year of preaching regularly, and I find the same texts coming round again, I realize how much my theology has changed from the last time I preached them. I usually pick as primary texts those I haven't preached before, but when I do the weekly readings I reflect on what I would do differently.

I also find myself guessing at the implied theology of the lectionary committee when readings are placed together.

I want to do a series on "passages that never get preached." Not surprisingly, most of the texts that don't get pulpit airtime are those that have to do with S-E-X or slapstick violence. No Tamar and Judah, no Potiphar's wife, no Ehud the Left-Handed Bathroom Avenger. It's too bad, because I think Biblical literacy would go way up if we stopped treating the Bible as a self-contained, sexless, humorless, lifeless universe, where everyone speaks in a "Thus Saith the Lord" voice. I'm wondering if I could do a sermon on Onan. I bet people would remember it.

Posted: Wed - August 10, 2005 at 04:41 PM           |

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