The Eucharistic Lectionary

Every Lord’s Day at Eucharist, we have Scripture readings, also called lessons, from the Old Testament, the Psalter, Epistles and the Gospels.  The readings to be used are selected according to a calendar of readings known as a Lectionary. The ancient practice of using a lectionary has the advantage of ensuring we have a wide range of Bible readings the "Whole council of Scripture," as is said.  It also allows us to join with many other Christians in our tradition many other traditions who use the same or similar lectionaries.  Do lectionaries limit the Holy Spirit speaking to the preacher about the message to be delivered any given Sunday?  Many think so, and it is true that circumstance and occurrences call for overriding lectionary readings, but perhaps using a lectionary that covers the broad warp and woof of Holy Scripture is honoring the Holy Spirit who inspired all of Holy Scripture in the first place.