November 18, 2012
Reflection on Lectoring
"There are “good works” and there are good works
performed as Christian ministry. Both
are good. Helping people during natural
disasters is good. Feeding hungry people
is good. Visiting the sick is good. However, doing these things in the name of
Christ adds a new dimension. They become
Christian service.
Last week, we said that lector ministry involves more than just reading from the Bible. More importantly, it is a ministry through which God reveals his presence. It is a way for people at Mass to encounter God face to face.
A few Sundays ago in the first reading, we heard Isaiah the prophet telling the exiled Jewish people, “Be strong, fear not!” Isaiah was more than just a motivational speaker doing the “good work” of encouraging homeless people. His words took on a larger dimension when he added, “Here is your God, he comes with vindication, with divine recompense he comes to save you.”
The hymn Be Not Afraid by Bob Dufford, S.J. is like that. It offers more than just encouragement in times of trouble. It promises, “You shall see the face of God and live.”
Music ministers do more than sing. They help people see the face of God. In the same way, lectors do more than read. As you will see in today’s first reading from the Book of Daniel, lectors proclaim, “The wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”
There can be no better encouragement.
Last week, we said that lector ministry involves more than just reading from the Bible. More importantly, it is a ministry through which God reveals his presence. It is a way for people at Mass to encounter God face to face.
A few Sundays ago in the first reading, we heard Isaiah the prophet telling the exiled Jewish people, “Be strong, fear not!” Isaiah was more than just a motivational speaker doing the “good work” of encouraging homeless people. His words took on a larger dimension when he added, “Here is your God, he comes with vindication, with divine recompense he comes to save you.”
The hymn Be Not Afraid by Bob Dufford, S.J. is like that. It offers more than just encouragement in times of trouble. It promises, “You shall see the face of God and live.”
Music ministers do more than sing. They help people see the face of God. In the same way, lectors do more than read. As you will see in today’s first reading from the Book of Daniel, lectors proclaim, “The wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”
There can be no better encouragement.
________________________
"Say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust'."
- Psalms 91:2
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First Reading - Daniel 12:1-3
A Star Forever
- Psalms 91:2
_________________________
First Reading - Daniel 12:1-3
A Star Forever
It is hard to feel optimistic when your country continues
to be overrun by outsiders.
First, the Assyrians grabbed up the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Then the Babylonians crushed Judah and snatched its population into exile. The Persians were next. Then it was Alexander the Great, followed quickly by the Ptolemy kings in Egypt. And by the time the Book of Daniel achieved its final form, the Seleucid king Antiochus IV was in control, and set up an altar to Zeus right in the temple of Jerusalem.
The Book of Daniel is less a prophetic book than an apocalyptic vision about the coming of the Kingdom of God. It is to be a time of great tribulation followed by the glorious conquest of God over evil. It is the kind of message greatly needed by people who were continuously victimized by foreign powers that had little respect for their religious traditions.
The Gospels also contain many apocalyptic passages. In today’s reading from Mark, Jesus says, “They will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (13:26).
The kind of kingdom promised by Jesus in the New Testament did not depend on the kind of military might envisioned in the Old Testament. However, the promise in the Book of Daniel that we shall be “like the stars forever” is a reason to rejoice in any age.
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Second Realing - Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Yesterday, Today and Forever
First, the Assyrians grabbed up the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Then the Babylonians crushed Judah and snatched its population into exile. The Persians were next. Then it was Alexander the Great, followed quickly by the Ptolemy kings in Egypt. And by the time the Book of Daniel achieved its final form, the Seleucid king Antiochus IV was in control, and set up an altar to Zeus right in the temple of Jerusalem.
The Book of Daniel is less a prophetic book than an apocalyptic vision about the coming of the Kingdom of God. It is to be a time of great tribulation followed by the glorious conquest of God over evil. It is the kind of message greatly needed by people who were continuously victimized by foreign powers that had little respect for their religious traditions.
The Gospels also contain many apocalyptic passages. In today’s reading from Mark, Jesus says, “They will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (13:26).
The kind of kingdom promised by Jesus in the New Testament did not depend on the kind of military might envisioned in the Old Testament. However, the promise in the Book of Daniel that we shall be “like the stars forever” is a reason to rejoice in any age.
_________________________
Second Realing - Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Yesterday, Today and Forever
At the close of the Letter to the Hebrews, the author
urges his hearers to “bear with this
message of encouragement.” Other
translations use the words “message of
exhortation.” The overall purpose of
the letter is to encourage steadfastness in the faith - a faith that puts the
resurrected Christ at its center.
Today’s passage from Hebrews brings into sharp focus the message presented over the past seven Sundays. Christ’s sacrifice was the one-time event that changed everything. No more daily sacrifices made by human priests imperfectly pleading for forgiveness. Christ as both high priest and perfect sacrifice made salvation possible. Throughout history, Moses and the prophets served God faithfully by pointing things in the right direction. Today, Jesus fulfils the promise.
Perhaps, we should close our seven-week journey through the Letter to the Hebrews with two verses from its closing chapter. Verse 6 reinforces the sense of optimism found in today’s first reading from Daniel when it says, “Thus we may say with confidence: ‘the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid'."
Verse 8 gives us the ultimate reassurance that we have a high priest who will never abandon us. With total confidence it says, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever."
© George Fournier, 2012
Today’s passage from Hebrews brings into sharp focus the message presented over the past seven Sundays. Christ’s sacrifice was the one-time event that changed everything. No more daily sacrifices made by human priests imperfectly pleading for forgiveness. Christ as both high priest and perfect sacrifice made salvation possible. Throughout history, Moses and the prophets served God faithfully by pointing things in the right direction. Today, Jesus fulfils the promise.
Perhaps, we should close our seven-week journey through the Letter to the Hebrews with two verses from its closing chapter. Verse 6 reinforces the sense of optimism found in today’s first reading from Daniel when it says, “Thus we may say with confidence: ‘the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid'."
Verse 8 gives us the ultimate reassurance that we have a high priest who will never abandon us. With total confidence it says, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever."
© George Fournier, 2012
