In the New Year, by the grace and mercy of God, I will:
1. Read the daily Scripture readings assigned in LSB for morning and evening (pp. 299-304).
2. Pray the daily Psalms assigned in the Psalter Chart (p. 304).
3. Read the assigned section of the Book of Concord for Monday-Friday for each of the 52 weeks of the year (Concordia, p. 19-22 - note: they are presented in chronological order of their writing)
I offer this as a suggestion because I think it would be utterly achievable for any pastor - even the busiest. The easiest way to accomplish the above would be to pray Matins and Vespers daily (using the assigned Psalms and Scripture readings) and to read sometime during the course of the day (maybe before, at, or after lunch?) the page or two assigned from the Book of Concord. What strength would come to us from such an immersion in the psalter, such a reading through the Word, and such a review of the Church's Symbols!
Anyone willing to take up the challenge?
[Note: of course the laity are welcome to join in the challenge too!]
11 comments:
Count me in, by God's grace and according to the strength He provides! Let this be our "spiritual diet" program and "spiritual exercise" program this year, dare I say it? Our daily exercise of piety?
Excellent.
I think I'll keep a running log of some thoughts of the lectio divina on this blog, but wouldn't it be great if the Concordia blog could offer the daily reading and provide some conversation on each of the assigned readings - place for questions, comments, insights, and such?
Count me in.
Here's another gift - Third Day of Christmass - of reading and reflection:
The Liturgical Renaissance in the Roman Catholic Church, E. B. Koenker, Chicago 1954, CPH 1966,,,,,,, should at least be in the CSL library.
Koenker was a confrer of Piepkorn and Pelikan, and my Medieval prof at VU aeons ago.
The book is an excellent analytical and historical study of the state of the Western Rite up to the years before Vatican II, and makes understandable the changes in Roman and Western theology and worship life since.
A classmate from days of yore was by over the last week and was rereading his very worn copy, and in the context of discussing it again, thought you might enjoy reading it,,,,,
Fr. Hank
As I said on McCain's blog, if anyone wants to use a complete set of Seasonal, weekday, and Saints' Day Propers, the entire Psalter pointed for chanting, complete orders of Morning Prayer and Vespers, why not check out the Brotherhood Prayer Book: Text Edition? www.emmanuelpress.us That's what I'll be using. Plus it's got great new artwork by Ed Riojas.
Hi, Paul!
I love the BPB and I used it extensively. But I decided when LSB came out to pray the office from there and see how well it worked (I'm a breviary-aholic - I've prayed the Lindemann, the FATS, the Short Breviary, the Western Rite breviary, etc.). So far, I must say, it works quite well. The spirit of the resolution, though, would be more than adequately met if someone kept it using the BPB and one of the Psalm charts from it. The lectionary is already the same, no?
Let's not get into a friendly squabble over the books to use: just use whatever works for you.
I respect the "Brotherhood" but, for me, it is simply far too cumbersome.
I won't mention here that there is now in the works at CPH a two volume "Lutheran Daily Prayer" resource that will provide a simple, clear, and easy to use daily prayer resource, revolving around Matins and Vespers with all the readings for the day all in one place so as to avoid the irritating and incessant page turning and book juggling required presently from most anything else out there.
We hesitate to call it a "Lutheran Breviary" so we will be calling it "Lutheran Daily Prayer" ... but, of course, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...it's a duck.
Only, I suspect this resource will be far easier to use than any breviary, which, in my experience, often remains cumbersome, confusing and a bit difficult to navigate around in.
But...for now....I like Pr. Weedon's suggestion/recommendation since it simply inviting and encouraging us as pastors to use our Church's hymnal as the core text and resource for our daily exercise in prayer and meditation on the Word of God and our Lutheran Confessions.
Bill, I like your suggestion about putting the "Concordia" daily readings up on the BOC blog. I'll have to consider that some more.
What a great resolution! I think it is important to look for ways to incorporate devotion into everday things. When there were 150 days left till call day I decided to count them down by reading a psalm a day (starting with 150) and praying the psalm prayer from the BPB. What a great thing that has been (except today is 119-a little difficult!)
Fr. Hank,
I will definitely want to check that out. I have treasured for a number of years his little book *Worship in Word and Sacrament*! I wish I could have heard the lectures first hand.
Pax!
Jim Roemke,
just be glad day 119 happened during Christmas break for the Sem. Think about it falling during finals week - or Symposia!
Blessings as the Lord continues to prepare you for His harvest fields.
Pr. Weedon-
Thank you for the recommendation of the Brotherhood Prayerbook! I ordered mine from Emmanuel Press today! Can't wait to get it! Paperback version was only $20.
Post a Comment