April 14, 2013
Reflection on Lectoring
How fortunate lectors are.
At Sunday Mass, lectors have hundreds of people with whom
they can share what God has shared with them.
What God speaks to each lector through the Scriptures, the lector speaks
from the ambo to his or her friends and fellow worshipers.
Chapter 17 of John’s Gospel is an example of this kind of
prayerful sharing. In the Garden of
Gethsemane before his death, Jesus prays to his Father about his disciples, and
recalls the words he has shared with them.
The words he shared come from God: “Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the
words you gave to me I have given to them” (verses 7-8).
The words the disciples received are to be shared with
others: “I pray not only for them, but
also for those who will believe in me through their words” (verse 20).
And finally, all who hear and believe the word are very
special to God: “Father, they are your
gift to me” (verse 24).
God allows lectors to have a role in this continued
sharing of his word. If you read all of
Chapter 17 you will come to the words, “I
made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which
you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
_______________________________
First Reading - Acts 5:27b-32, 40b-41
Radical Change
Today’s first reading starts out by telling us that the
Sanhedrin had given the apostles a stern warning “to stop teaching in that name.”
When that first warning failed to do much good, the Sanhedrin again
ordered them “to stop speaking in the
name of Jesus.”
The apostles were an incorrigible bunch and immediately started
rejoicing. The verse following today’s
reading indicates how much they thought of the Sanhedrin’s warnings: “And all day long, both at the temple and in
their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.”
What a change from the earlier way in which the apostles
responded to fear and pressure. When
Jesus was arrested in the garden, the apostles “all left him and fled” (Mark 14:50). In the courtyard of the high priest, afraid
for his safety, Peter denied Jesus three times.
Perhaps people can change.
Today’s reading is all about truly remarkable
change. It is easy to overlook the very
radical nature of this change because we have heard the story so many times
before.
_____________________________
First Reading - Revelation 5:11-14
Beyond Bewilderment
In his book, Revelation,
Wilfrid J. Harrington writes, “The reader faced for the first time with the
Book of Revelation is, understandably, bewildered.” He goes on to suggest that Revelation, more
than any other book in the New Testament, demands commentary and analysis.
In today’s second reading, reference is made to “four living creatures” and a group of
elders (there were 24 of them). You can
check in the first chapter of Ezekiel to find out more about the living creatures
who supported God’s chariot throne. You
might also consult commentaries about who the elders were. There is a lot of rich symbolism that would
enhance your understanding of the story.
You might also spend some time reflecting on the sheer
joy of the celebration of the Lamb’s victory.
In this reading there are countless (infinite) numbers of
angels in heaven crying out. Every
creature on the earth, under the earth and in the sea cries out. Everything in the entire universe cheers
wildly. The celebration must have been
deafening.
© George Fournier, 2013
