February 3, 2013
Reflection on Lectoring
We all know that we need doctors to cure our diseases,
engineers to build our bridges, and farmers to grow our food. But are we equally sure that we need artists,
musicians, or poets to help us live well?
Imagine you are planning a new colony on a distant
planet. Whom would you want on your
spaceship’s passenger list? Engineers or
artists?
Here’s another question.
Would you also want to have a lector on board, someone with a genuine calling
to proclaim the Scriptures?
What do lectors do that makes their presence at Mass
essential? Could they be replaced by a period of silent reading? Is there something about lectoring that cannot
be accomplished in any other way?
You initially became a lector because you believed
lectors do have an important role at
Mass. Perhaps over time that belief took
on greater clarity. There is value in occasionally
thinking about your role and about the difference you make at Mass. There is also value in sharing those thoughts
with other lectors. When a lector has a
clear understanding about why he or she is a lector, the assembly will take
notice.
There are some artists, musicians and poets who would always
be welcome as fellow travelers on any journey.
Perhaps the same can be said about thoughtful, prayerful and effective lectors.
_________________________
“In
him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who
accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will.”
_______________________________
First Reading - Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
A Job to Do
This is one of the most reassuring Scripture passages in
the entire Bible.
God has a plan for you.
The details may not always be clear.
But God has a mission for you with important goals to accomplish. That is what God tells a somewhat stunned
Jeremiah who objects by saying, “I do not
know how to speak, I am too young” (ch.1 v.8).
Despite the fact that responding to God’s plan may not always
be easy, there is comfort in knowing that we do not have to wander through life
aimlessly. The hard part is listening
and understanding.
In this week’s Reflection on Lectoring we made the point
that being a lector is part of God’s plan for those whom he chooses. One of the messages in today’s first reading
is that we can be effective in this ministry if we truly believe that the plan originates
with God.
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Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:13
The Measure of Health
In recent weeks, we have seen that the Corinthians needed
a lot of advice on how to get along.
Diversity was a hard notion for them.
Looking better than the guy next door often supplanted feeling connected
with their neighbors.
Today’s second reading (a favorite for wedding
ceremonies) sounds like sweet and beautify poetry. But there is a vitally important
message. A life and death message about
the health and wellbeing of a community.
Love can serve as a yardstick for measuring how healthy a
community or any group of people really is.
More so than the numbers of people who vote in elections. More than how many people “like” something on
Facebook. More than the balance sheet of
a company.
© George Fournier 2013
