Don't you find it comforting that the Church gave us something to follow in our readings everyday? And each reading has a significance to the event taking place in the Liturgical Calendar.
I find this amazing. Lectionary readings are well-thought, timely and organized. How can a monolith, ancient church be so well-organized? I can remember how we (as an evangelical) jump from one verse to the other and tried to sense where the Spirit wanted us to read.
I really don't get the Spirit-led reading of Scriptures before. Not because I'm less of a Christian, but as a person, I wanted a more structured Bible reading and prayer life. It's not everyday we hear God's voice telling us to read this and that. Most of the times, I just stare blankly at my Bible and mind telling "what now?? duhhh..." So I start treating it as a Lotto, which was taught to us before (you might just find your lucky verse). Whatever my fingers pick randomly. One time I even ended up reading about rape in the Old Testament.
So, to those converts who are still struggling to have their "daily devotions" setup. This liturgical calendar/lectionary is the answer to your needs. If you want to have a walk through the whole Bible, without so much pressure, you can do it in three years.
I bought a New American Bible - Revised Edition that has a Lectionary at the back. It's amazing! Just choose which cycle you're in (e.g. this 2012 it's Cycle B), choose the current week you're into (week 40 or so?), bam! there goes your weekly reading!
On a macro look on things, don't you find it neat that a Church has setup this kind of thing? Wherever you go, whatever time, which ever country you're in, the readings are still the same? The implications are just amazing - we are ONE, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Our readings synchronized to enhance our existing oneness and harmony as a church.
I know, it's cool to be a Catholic, right?
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