Introducing LECTIO

Lectio is the Latin word for “reading,” which is why the lectionary is called the lectionary. Lectionaries are collections of readings, selected by churches for their worship life. Not all churches use lectionaries, but for the ones that do, the lectionary can be a powerful part of the communal and individual experience.

Think about it this way: the weekly lectionary readings mark a path through scripture, and they function as signposts and landmarks as the church journeys through the year. From the first Sunday of Advent to Reign of Christ (let’s eschew the patriarchal “Christ the King” language, shall we?), the lectionary plots our course through the stories the church tells and re-tells. For better or for worse, the lectionary constitutes a canon within the larger canon of Christian scripture, since these texts are the ones that are read and heard most often in worship.

This blog attempts to be a guide on this path or a companion on this journey. It’s meant for desperate preachers on Saturday nights, and for curious and confused people on Monday mornings. It’s meant for those trying to understand the bible for the first time, and for those with lifetimes of knowledge jumbling around in their heads. It’s not meant to be exhaustive, like a biblical commentary, but it’s something to spark thought and curiosity.

So welcome to LECTIO, and happy reading and happy journeying!