The design of the Church in these Sundays is to call us from the feasting and joy of Christmas, to prepare for the fasting and humiliation proper for the approaching season of Lent; to bring us from thinking on the manner of CHRIST’S coming into the world, to reflecting on the cause of it, our own sins and miseries; that so, being convinced of the reasonableness of punishing and mortifying ourselves for our sins, we may the more strictly and religiously apply ourselves to the duties of humiliation, mortification, and repentance, during the season of Lent.

The Epistles for each of these three days are taken out of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Corinthians. The first two persuade us to acts of mortification and penance, by proposing to us St. Paul’s example. And because all acts of self-denial, unless founded upon charity, or in a principle of love to GOD and submission to his institutions, profit nothing; the Church, in the Epistle for Quinquagesima Sunday, sets before us this exalted virtue of Christian love and unity. The design of the Gospels is the same with that of the Epistles.

[Excerpt from John Henry Hobart, A Companion for the Book of Common Prayer, Containing an Explanation of the Service, 82-83. 1859.]

The Epistle for the Purification contains a prediction of the first advent of the Messiah, when he should come to his temple; which prediction was fulfilled at the presentation of CHRIST in the temple of which the Gospel gives an account.

The Epistle for the Annunciation contains the prophecy in Isaiah concerning the miraculous birth of CHRIST; and the Gospel recites the fulfillment of this prediction.

[Excerpt from John Henry Hobart, A Companion for the Book of Common Prayer, Containing an Explanation of the Service, 84. 1859.]

The Epistle relates to the conversion of St. Paul; and the Gospel exhibits the eminent reward of those who, like this Apostle, shall steadily adhere to the Saviour, and labor in his service.

[Excerpt from John Henry Hobart, A Companion for the Book of Common Prayer, Containing an Explanation of the Service, 83. 1859.]

[Excerpt from John Henry Hobart, A Companion for the Book of Common Prayer, Containing an Explanation of the Service, 82. 1859.]

This book has long been out of print, though it can be procured from sellers of used books. In order to provide brief notes of educational and devotional instruction, the Society will be publishing here on its website Bishop Hobart’s commentary on the church year. Each item will be published on the day beginning the season or on the respective holy day, covering the entire church year. We hope these snippets of information will be enlightening for Anglicans and non-Anglicans alike.

Bishop Hobart’s commentary includes a few footnotes. Where we have found them to be important for the understanding of his particular remarks, we have included them; when we have found them to address marginal matters not explicitly necessary for understanding his comments, we have omitted them.

As we are only now publishing the series, we begin with the Sundays after the Epiphany and will continue until we have finished next year on the feast of Epiphany.

See larger image Give Us This Day: A Daily Bible Study, Devotion, Meditation, and Prayer For the Whole New Testament - Vol. 1: Matthew (Paperback) By (author) Charles Erlandson List Price: $12.99 USD New From: $12.99 In Stock Used from: $13.37 In Stock

Many Christians today read through the Bible as if it were an instruction manual for piecing together buyer-assembled particle board furniture. Some of it is obvious, and some of it is confusing. We plod along through each book, chapter by chapter, not always understanding, but somehow forcing things together to look like the item pictured on the box. However, when it comes to following Christ, we should do more than haphazardly throw together our understanding of Scripture because doing so will lead to an uncertain life—though, on the outside, it looks to others like the picture of the thing on the box, that preconceived idea of how Christians are supposed to act and think.

How can we better read and meditate on the Bible so that we have a better understanding of God’s precepts? One way practiced since early Christianity is that of lectio divina, or “divine reading”.

Lectio divina is a form of reading the Scriptures that includes four parts: reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation. First, the Christian reads the text, methodically going over a passage, taking note of anything that seems particularly unique or meaningful. Next, he meditates on the meaning of the passage—not simply the facts of the story, but also the implications of the actions described. He lets the ramifications of the text sink in. Then, he turns to the Lord in prayer, asking that his mind and will be shaped in the image of God and that he will be transformed by the text. Finally, the reader contemplates how this text expresses the love of God and its application, committing himself to obey the Lord’s commandments.

To help Bible readers use the tool of divine reading, the Rev. Charles Erlandson has written a series of daily devotionals covering the entirety of the New Testament. His first of eight volumes has recently been released and is entitled Give Us This Day, Volume 1: Matthew. In the book, Father Erlandson, an Anglican priest, provides the reader with a pattern to apply lectio divina to the Gospel According to St. Matthew. Each chapter provides a brief essay explaining some points of the text and offers anecdotes or analogies that can help the Bible reader better understand the passage. This is followed by a short prayer, sometimes an original prayer by the author, sometimes a prayer or hymn from church history or the Book of Common Prayer. There are also “Points for Meditation” that can help the reader in assessing how the text is important to his life. The chapter concludes with a resolution that aids the reader in committing himself to let his words and deeds be influenced by the principles of God’s word.

Give Us This Day: Matthew is a resource that can be helpful for anyone wishing to have a deeper understanding of the Bible. Fr. Erlandson carefully examined the New Testament text over a period of two years, generally following the lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer. He wrote 1,000-1,500 words six days a week to craft this devotional guide. He began the project as a way to help parishioners and friends read through and become more familiar with the Scriptures, sending out his daily reflections by email. The book is not an exegetical commentary or a one-minute motivational book; instead, the author has provided an in-depth devotional for the serious reader and follower of Christ. Readers can use this quality tool to help them read the Bible in a deliberate, formative way; meditate and pray more biblically; and mature in their relationship with Christ.

In addition to the book, Fr. Erlandson has provided several resources on his website www.giveusthisdaydevotional.com Visitors to the site can sign up to receive a chapter of the devotional each day by email or receive a free ebook version of Matthew. Fr. Erlandson’s essays about Anglicanism are available on his blog “Reformed Catholicism”. Additionally, he has posted some of his reviews of books by other writers.

Fr. Erlandson is assistant rector of Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church and high school teacher at Good Shepherd School in Tyler, Texas. He is also an adjunct professor for Cranmer Theological House. The second volume of the series, covering the Gospel According to St. Mark, will be published in 2012.

Give Us This Day, Volume 1: Matthew is available for purchase from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other online booksellers. List price is $12.99.