Word of God Sunday
Many years ago, I attended a Mass marking the end of an inter-college competition. Cringing on her behalf, I watched an ill-prepared student who was supposed to read the second reading, begin to read the Gospel. A cardinal, a priest and a school principal leapt from their seats to stop her. It was very dramatic, and if you did not know better, you would think it was an over-reaction. It was not. The second reading was important and could not be left out. Moreover, it is the job of an ordained minister to read the Gospel.
The structure of a Catholic Mass can be quite confusing for a newcomer, or someone inexperienced like the unfortunate young woman. This article will explain more about the part of Mass that we call The Liturgy of the Word, in keeping with the focus of Word of God Sunday that we celebrate today.
What is the Liturgy of the Word?
The Liturgy of the Word is the part of the Mass that consists of the faithful hearing scripture. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament, then we hear a Psalm. On a Sunday or a special feast day we hear a reading from the Letters. The Gospel reading is the climax of the Liturgy of the Word.
These same readings are heard at Mass all over the world; every day, the body of the Church is united in this way. When the cycle of readings was prepared after Vatican II, the Gospels were central, and the Old Testament readings and the Psalm were chosen to thematically compliment the Gospel reading. The Gospel reading is treated differently because it is through the Gospel that we hear the words of Jesus.
How do we show our reverence for the Gospel?
During my time as a Director of Religious Studies, the one point in the Mass when I asked the students to refrain from leaving to go to the toilet was during the reading of the Gospel. I remember someone asking me why then and not during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and I could not give a clear answer – I simply felt that the proclamation of the Gospel was one of the parts of the Mass that the students really needed to be present for.
The ways in which we revere the Gospel are numerous. Lay people may read the other readings, but the Gospel is read by a deacon or a priest. Candles are held on either side of the Ambo (lectern) during the reading, and incense is often used to mark our reverence.
Before the Gospel is proclaimed, we say or sing Alleluia to welcome the Word of the Lord. We stand. We make a small sign of the cross over our foreheads, our mouths, and our hearts as we say, “Glory to you, O Lord.” The response at the end is also different: “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.”
We are directly addressing Jesus because we hear his words, and he is present through the words. Jesus Christ is revealed in the Word, and He is the Word.
On Word of God Sunday, our attention is drawn to the Scriptures. Even though we particularly revere the Gospel, it is important to highlight that the Bible in its entirety is the Word of God. It was written by many people over a lengthy period time, but it was inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit. It is right that we spend time with this astonishing, incredibly multi-layered, inter-related and extraordinarily complex text.
“Regular reading of sacred Scripture and the celebration of the Eucharist make it possible for us to see ourselves as part of one another. As Christians, we are a single people, making our pilgrim way through history, sustained by the Lord, present in our midst, who speaks to us and nourishes us. A day devoted to the Bible should not be seen as a yearly event but rather a yearlong event, for we urgently need to grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures and of the risen Lord, who continues to speak his word and to break bread in the community of believers. For this reason, we need to develop a closer relationship with sacred Scripture; otherwise, our hearts will remain cold and our eyes shut, struck as we are by so many forms of blindness.” Pope Francis, Aperuit Illis, 2019.
How can we engage more with Scripture?
There is a strange idea amongst some critics that Catholics do not read the Bible. This is clearly not the case. We are encouraged to read the Bible, and there are many resources and apps that help us do this. Take for example, Fr Mike Schmitz’s Bible in a Year Podcast, one of the most successful podcasts in recent years.
Considering the length and depth of the Bible, using a resource like Fr Mike's podcast means that scripture can be explained by someone knowledgeable as we read. Priests undergo many years of education and training for this purpose, therefore a Catholic resource is reliable.
Inspired by Word of God Sunday, perhaps we should set ourselves a goal to engage more with the Bible? Maybe we can commit to a short reading each morning or evening?
I want to be more mindful of the scripture at Mass. I find my attention strays at times, and having the words in front of me helps me focus (and remember the response for the Psalm!) This is why many Catholics take a missal into church with them. I have started to use the Hallow app on my phone, or an excellent book of the readings of the day entitled God’s Word (available from Catholic stores.)
How will you make more time for the Word of God?