I’ve often thought of what it might mean for Christian intellectuals (i.e. aspiring theologians like myself and, I imagine most of my readership here) to try to shape their academic/theological reading in a way that orients it properly toward worship. This led me to wonder how it might be possible for theological reading to take shape in a way that cohered with the dramatic structure of the celebration of the Christian year with its various emphases on different elements of the Christian theological narrative.

I came up with a rough sketch a while back of what this might look like. I’d love some input on it as there are still some holes in parts of the year that I have trouble placing theological reading into (such as Epiphany).

So here’s the skeleton of such a theological reading plan:

Advent – Reading in Eschatology (Recommended: Jurgen Moltmann, The Coming of God)
Christmas – Readings on the Incarnation (Recommended: Athanasius, On the Incarnation, Jenson, Systematic Theology, I)
Epiphany – Readings of Divine Glory/Beauty (Recommended: Balthasar, The Glory of the Lord, I)
Lent – Readings on the Theology of the Cross & Martyrdom (Recommended: McGill, Death and Life, Lewis, Between Cross and Resurrection, Balthasar, Mysterium Paschale)
Easter – Readings on the Resurrection & Forgiveness (Recommended: Williams, Resurrection, Jenson, Story and Promise)
After Pentecost - Readings on the Holy Spirit, the Trinity & the Church (Various, as this is the long season of ‘Ordinary Time’ there’s a lot that could fit here)

So, what do people think of this as a possible way of framing theological reading in way that it can be more readily inclined toward worship? What additions would you recommend for different seasons?