--The Second Sunday of Advent, 1928 Prayerbook

Everybody knows that Anglicans in general and Episcopalians in particular have more Bible read to them than any other Christian denomination. This is because the Prayerbook emphasizes a reading from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms and the Gospels every Sunday. We also have a daily lectionary for reading through the Bible in Two years. Maybe not everybody knows this, but if you don’t, you must be new. Or maybe you forgot. But its true. It's one of the things that attracted me to the Episcopal Church.

About four years ago, at the urging of several people, I challenged the congregation to a year of Bible reading. “Read through the Bible in one year” I exhorted. I could do this with integrity because I have read it through…more than a couple of times. But of course, you say, a minister or a priest should do this. Yes, we should. But I first read it through in high school, a long time before I ever even thought of becoming a clergyman, so it's not just for the clergy. And, inasmuch as the collect above is meant for all people, all people should read Holy Scripture.

Most people would agree that reading through the Bible is a good thing - especially when you take seriously that the three major monotheistic global faiths are all focused on a book of holy writ. All three have this notion that not only is there a God, but also that He is not silent. "God has spoken to his people, alleluia.”

Howsoever, as one pundit observed, it’s a misnomer to say that monotheists are "people of the book." It's more accurate to say that they are people who wish they had read their book…or would like to read the book, or think it’s a good idea to read the book if we can ever get around to it, or who read it once and felt they got the gist of it (like the outlaw in the movie 3:10 TO YUMA, which didn’t stop him from becoming an outlaw).

But now comes a book by a New York City writer entitled, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs. Here is a person who took the task of reading the Bible very seriously--by not just reading it, but doing it. In doing so it seems that he gained his soul and, also, never loses his sense of humor. Its very funny in places. The beard he grows, to make his point, is truly one of biblical proportions. Actually, just reading the endorsements at the front of the book is almost worth the price. He comes from New York City, and calls himself a "secular Jew." He admits that he is Jewish in the sense that the Olive Garden is Italian. It's that sort of humor, and it keeps you on your toes, even when you’re sitting.

And I recommend it…it should be on your list of books to read now, and would be great as a Christmas gift. Here is a man who took seriously the collect for the Second Sunday of Advent. You probably won’t agree with all of the author’s conclusions, but it will certainly get you reflecting on what it means to be "a person of the book."

Father Tom