For the many thousands of clergy, readers and lay preachers who, week by week, seek inspiration as they prepare sermons on the lectionary readings, here is an expert, wise and extremely down to earth guide. ''A companion to the main volume covering the Sunday readings in years A, B & C, this invaluable volume covers all the principal feasts and festivals that do not, or do not necessarily, fall on a Sunday - major saints' days, holy days such as Christmas Day, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Ascension Day, other special Sunday celebrations such as Mothering Sunday, Bible Sunday, Harvest Festival, Remembrancetide and more. ''John Pridmore's outstanding gifts as a preacher and writer were learned in Cambridge where he taught theology and the hard reality of the East End of London where there was absolutely no room for platitudes or escapist readings of the Scriptures. Wisdom, strongly tempered by reality, shines out from every paragraph. Many such lectionary commentaries and companions exist already, but