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.
Magpies and Cable Ties (again)
Around July 26, which is surprisingly early, I had my first magpie strike of the season. A magpie slammed into my helmet several times out near Mawson Lakes. So out came the cable ties.
Cable ties sticking up out of the helmet prevent the birds from hitting the rider on the head. They don’t like flying into the little forest of twigs. It’s very effective, although it makes the rider look somewhat strange. A lady once asked me at the traffic lights why I had all this stuff on my head. I said it was to keep the aliens away, and she took a step back! I then said it was for magpies, but she was not convinced, and looked the other way.
Magpies learn. A couple of weeks ago this same magpie, which has been swooping over me and swearing profusely twice a day, began to fly in from the side, slamming into my head underneath the cable ties. In response I now have cable ties sticking out from the side of the helmet. The magpie was reduced to frustrated swearing and squawking, and I now look like a real idiot.
This morning, at the end of August, the magpie tried a new tactic. It came in low and fast, thudding into my shoulder. “Fail,” thought I, amply protected by jacket, jersey and shirt. That was gloating too soon. It soon became clear the technique simply needed a little practice. You ricochet off the point of the shoulder and up into the neck and the earlobe. It’s very effective, it draws blood, and avoids the cable ties.
So tonight I will have added some more cable ties to droop down over my neck. It’s a pest. They howl in the wind. I look like a prize drongo. But it’s the nicest route home, along creeks and away from traffic. I don’t want to abandon it. Besides, there are other magpies on the alternative ways home.
Such is life. Just when we get it sorted out, there is a new challenge. The challenge, of course, is what the living is all about. And if magpies are the only problem, I’m a fortunate man.
(More on Magpies. The Adelaide Magpie map.)
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