Stellers Jays, Peanuts, and Dusty Bibles: Neglecting Bible Study

Stellers jays love peanuts.  Sharing the forest with them for these many years has taught us that.  Their affinity for the shelled delicacies will cause them to push outside their comfort zone and stretch the boundaries of their timid natures.

By tracie7779 (originally posted to Flickr as DSC_0152) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 

(www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

For quite some time now, though, there has been an increase in black bear activity in our little mountain community. Bounded as we are on all sides by National Forest, we have planted ourselves in the middle of the bears' territory, so we cannot much blame them.

It is the general policy of the community to avoid placing any food where it may attract bears.  The measure is necessary for their long term safety.  It is best that they not get too comfortable around people.  The self-imposed limitations extend to bird feeders.

So, for quite a while we have not been feeding the chickadees or finches, and, we have not been setting out our customary daily peanuts for the stellers jays when they are here in the area.  Our lonely bird feeder sits empty, and the deck rail is both bare and, well, badly in need of paint...but that's a blog post for another day.

Today, we decided to bend the rules a bit, and set out a few of the tempting snacks.  We heard some of the jays' characteristic strident squawking, and ventured to think that they may be returning for Lent, as they ordinarily do.

The peanuts though, sit untouched, hours later.  It's a surprise.  One of two possibilities present themselves.  Either, our beautiful blue winged neighbors are not back yet, and we have more winter ahead, or, they just don't remember that the peanuts might be there.

We haven't fed them in so long, that they may just not remember to look.

Those peanuts are a bit like my Bibles, I'm afraid.  We have several around the house, of course.  But other books...cookbooks, grade books, accounting logbooks, historical fiction.... seem to command my attention so much these days.  Have I forgotten that the most important book is there?  Of course not, ...not really.  But I have perhaps, forgotten to look.

See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

When you attend a liturgical church, you are immersed in scripture.  The lectionary readings are always in their prominent place in the service.  They span all parts of the Bible: Old Testament, Psalms, epistles, and the Gospel.  The liturgy is saturated with Scripture and the Daily Office is dripping with it.  It’s easy to feel that you’ve got the Bible reading thing covered.  But, just sitting down to read and study?  I’ve been neglecting it lately.

It's a shame really.  Peanuts for stellers jays and Bibles for Christians are rather nourishing, aren't they?  And, bears aren't likely to come around and disturb either delicacy, as long as folks take pains to monitor and guard the treasure.  I suppose that both neglected habits need restoring in the familiar cycle of my days.

For the unplanned Part 2 of this post, click here.

For More on Lent, check here.

By tracie7779 (originally posted to Flickr as DSC_0178) [CC-BY-SA-2.0
 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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"Oaks of Righteousness", & The Lectionary

They will be called oaks of righteousness…

~Is. 61:3

I love that.  It is contained in next Sunday’s lectionary readings.

~~~~~

The lectionary is a pattern of Bible readings for the year.  Lectionaries take into account the liturgical year, or cycle of Christian holidays and observances.  

The Revised Common Lectionary occurs in three year cycles.  In each of the three years, one of the first three gospels is heard beginning to end.  The remainder, of the books of the New Testament, are heard in whole, or in large part, in each year of the lectionary, as well.

Readings are prescribed for each Sunday including an Old Testament reading, A Psalm, an epistle, and a Gospel reading.

This year, we are on Year B.  The gospel readings this year come from Mark.  Because Mark is short, the Gospel of John is used to “fill in”.

There are some great things about use of the lectionary:

• 
  
• ·        It facilitates inclusion of all three parts of the Gospel story (Old Testament, New Testament, Epistles) and helps one to draw ties running throughout the history of God’s relationship with His people. 
• 
  
• ·         It encourages speakers, pastors, and teachers to deal with all parts of the Bible…not just those that they are most familiar and comfortable with.
• 
  
• ·        People all over the world follow the lectionary.  In this day and age, we are closely connected by the web.  Being on the same passages at the same time with a huge portion of the world’s Christians, allows us to tap into the insights and experiences of others.
• 
  
• ·        There is something powerfully stirring about hearing a reading in church (or at home) that you know is being read on that same Sunday from lecterns, across denominations, all over the world.

The current week’s lectionary readings are always located on the left sidebar of this blog.  Click on them, and they will take you to the Bible readings (NRSV).

Have a peaceful week.  We're halfway to Christmas!  This Sunday:  The Pink candle.

Pax Christi,

~Michelle