The Daily Mass readings (Daily Eucharistic Lectionary) must, by far, be the most-read part of the Bible day by day. When I, today, carry round with me the thought that
the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
I am very conscious that millions and millions and millions of people are gathering around that same piece of the scriptures today. All around the world. Starting here in NZ.
This daily reading discipline reads through the gospels each year and through most of the rest of the Bible over a two year cycle. It complements the Sunday RCL three year cycle, and connects readings to the liturgical time of year. There is a non-gospel reading, a psalm, and a gospel reading.
Now Bishop Richard Sklba has provided the first book I know of which reflects on each of the readings provided. This is the first book like this that I am aware of. It is scholarly, usable alongside the practice of lectio divina, can be used by those presiding daily at the Eucharist to help prepare a homily, and by those who turn to these readings daily at the Eucharist or at home.
If you do not have a discipline of daily Bible reading, and are looking for a simple one where you are united in this with millions of others in the most-followed system on the planet, I strongly encourage you to use the daily Mass readings. You will find them posted daily in the Chapel on this site (direct link to the readings here). You should readily be able to get lists of the actual readings (printed or online; you should encourage your church community to print them in the weekly pew sheet). You can purchase NRSV books that lay out the readings either Common Worship
At one stage a priest was producing a daily online commentary on readings and I encouraged him to switch to commenting on these readings. That has not continued, but I still encourage such a work to be taken up.
And if you know of any other resources online or in print around this discipline of daily reading please add these in the comments below also.
ACOM: Anglican Community Networked Ministries provides a Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in its daily postings. All done for you! Enjoy!
A question that arises for me is – How often is Daily Eucharist celebrated in parish/community churches within the traditions that use the three-year cycle of readings? While Daily Mass is often an RC discipline for many in that tradition, how many Anglican parishes provide such opportunities?
Ummm, Bosco when I went to your chapel and clicked on the link for the BCP Lectionary all I got was advertisements for IO (a software? hardware? system).
Thanks, Robert, for letting me know. I have removed that link. Blessings.
Thank you for flagging this, Bosco! I intend to order the book. (You may have a better evaluation than me, but having perused – via the web – the book version versus the e-version, I’ve concluded the book would work better for me, a retired person who would use this at home. The e-version, from my perspective, would result in endless moving back and forth of pages – especially if one missed a day – whereas the book version allows for easy access to the two reflections for first and second reading).