The Mosaic Bible and the Lectionary – Update
As I mentioned in an earlier post I’ve been trying to test the value of Holy Bible: Mosaic NLT (Meditations)
Of course, the texts in the Mosaic Bible are not the same as any one of the three years of the lectionary cycle, though they are done in the same pattern. One could preach through this Bible for a year in one’s church with profit, I think as it would follow the church’s liturgical year, even though one would not be using the regular set of texts.
But the alternative is to use some of the mosaic resources, the materials that come from various times and places, to supplement the regular materials. In that, I’ve found that there is a scattering of texts I can use during ordinary time, but as I approach Advent, I’m finding that things are much more helpful. This is to be expected, because the many weeks in ordinary time are not so precisely themed.
For example, in the material for the first Sunday of Advent, titled “Longing” Matthew Woodley has a meditation titled “Imagine.” One line will illustrate the value for Advent–“Advent trains us to ache again.” (p. 18) (My sister wrote a poem related to this point, which she has graciously permitted me to post.)
I do think it is necessary to go through the various advent readings, because you may not be using them on the same week as indicated.
Overall, I have found this to be a valuable resource, but not quite first rank overall in my lectionary reading and study.
