Making the most of the Lectionary by Thomas O'Loughlin

Making the Most of the Lectionary: A user's guide

This book has a very simple aim, to move Anglicans and Catholics from the near universal indifference to their current Lectionary to a place where it is encountered and its presentation of scripture enriches their worshipping lives.

Lectionary provision is oddly one point where Catholics and Anglicans have shared much common ground, with the BCP and pre-Vatican II Lectionaries being largely aligned (albeit a week adrift).  Therefore the adoption of Vatican II's Revised Lectionary as a basis for the Revised Common Lectionary in the US and for the Common Worship Lectionary in England is a continuation in a happy vane.

But why try and celebrate the Lectionary at all?  Firstly O'Loughlin deals with some general issues about the Bible and the relationship many Christians have with it - this might be old news for many readers but it is a key foundation to the book - it will equally be a radical challenge to the understanding "The Bible" of others and causing some never to get to the end of chapter 1.  There is also important distinctions made between the liturgical reading (and hearing) of scripture and "Bible Study" or a whole range of other modes of engagement.

This general discussion takes up about half the book - and having taken on board the message of this first half the examination of the Lectionary itself becomes pretty self explanatory - I made me feel a bit like the first half was a waste of time, however on reflection I see that I would not have got the second half if I encountered it alone.

O'Loughlin, in the second half, sets out the aim of those who put the Revised Lectionary together, it is a revelation that there were such strong aims given the output has become so widely accepted inter-denominationally (to often it is the bland that becomes universal - and with the Lectionary I think the assumption of many is because it is universal it must be bland). Even with new insights on the structure and the message of the Lectionary, what remains a challenge is the sheer scale of the encounter given its three year cycle, how many of us, even the most regular of church goers, can really hold three years worth of  liturgical experience in tension before us? However I think I will look with fresh eye at the reading before me Sunday to Sunday - and also when I now argue against the setting aside of Lectionary readings for this or that 'special' service I can arm myself with reason rather than just my reactionary spirit.