Whenever I plan a Maundy Thursday service, I get annoyed with the lectionary. Why isn\u2019t the second reading 1 John 4? I get that Paul\u2019s account of the words of institution for the Lord\u2019s Supper in 1 Corinthians is assigned to cover for the lack of an account in John\u2019s Gospel. Still, the day is named for the New Commandment. Jesus, gearing up for the most terrifying experience he and his disciples will ever know, commands them to love one another. It\u2019d be nice if 1 John\u2019s gloss\u201d\u201dthat such love casts out fear\u201d\u201dalso made the cut.<\/p>\n
This fairly arbitrary objection may be mine alone. But lots of us worship planners have pet frustrations with the Revised Common Lectionary (1992). My Facebook newsfeed\u201d\u201da place much like the wider world, if half the population went to seminary\u201d\u201dattests to these regularly.<\/p>\n
Why pair these readings? Why skip those verses? How will we survive an entire month on Jesus the long-winded bread of life? Does Christ\u2019s appearance to Thomas really need to come up every Low Sunday (leaving young associate ministers\u201d\u201dpreaching while the senior pastor takes the week off\u201d\u201dwith thick files of sermons on doubt or woundedness or bodily resurrection)?<\/p>\n