Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 30, 2013

Reflection on Lectoring

“To know who you are is to be oriented in moral space, a space in which questions arise about what is good or bad, what is worth doing and what is not, what has meaning or importance for you and what is trivial and secondary.”

This seminal passage from the book Source of the Self by Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor speaks about personal identity.  It speaks about the “frame or horizon” in which a person is “capable of taking a stand.”  It is the place in which a person can feel personally confident about who he or she is.  It is also the place in which a person can stand secure in his or her relations with others.

This frame or horizon is a place of bedrock beliefs, commitment to a purpose in life, and a recognition of one’s dependence on God and on other people.  Confidence and dependency.  Sometimes these states are contradictory.  Sometimes complementary.

Lectors stand in front of hundreds of people at Mass and by their example confidently declare, “This is what I believe!”  “The words I am proclaiming have truth and value!”

At the ambo with humility and gratitude lectors publicly demonstrate their commitment to the Scriptures.  They fulfill a calling, knowing that “lectoring is an important part of my purpose in life because God has asked me to do this.”

Finally, whenever lectors share the Scriptures they know they need God’s help to authentically proclaim his word.  They also know they need their fellow worshipers to pray and reflect with them, because the words they share are the most important words ever written.

For lectors (as for all Christians) confidence and dependency go hand in hand shaping their identity as faithful children of God.

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First Reading  -  1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21
The Source of Confidence

The prophet Elisha was a person who was confident in his dependence on God.  Even his name means “God is salvation.”

For more than fifty years, Elisha’s career was filled with miracles that helped ordinary people with everyday needs.  His prophecies dealt with great battles and significant political events.  Through it all, he knew that if God had called him to be a prophet, God would help him fulfill the assignment.

In today’s first reading, Elisha, demonstrated a remarkable degree of confidence and immediately stopped what he is doing when asked by the prophet Elijah to be his successor.  Forgetting about his fields, his twelve yoke of oxen, even his plowing equipment, Elisha tells everyone to have a feast.  He has another job to do.

His only request was to say goodbye to his parents.  Elijah says “ok,” and Elisha is off to a brand new adventure.  Perhaps, it was helpful to have a youthful spirit.  Perhaps, it was helpful to be unaware of all that lay ahead.  Or perhaps, most importantly, it was helpful to have confidence in God.

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Second Reading  -  Galatians 5:1, 13-18
The Source of Confidence  (Part II)

Sometimes life might seem a whole lot easier if we just had someone to tell us exactly what to do in every circumstance.  It would be such a comfort if we had someone else do our thinking for us.  Who can blame you when things go wrong if you are just following orders?

Paul’s letter to the Galatians was not a gentle message.  It was, in fact, his most acerbic letter.  He tells them point blank, Christ did not die so that they should “submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

The slavery Paul is talking about involves looking for salvation in Torah - the Jewish norms for proper behavior in all circumstances of life.  As a good Jew, Paul knew Torah.  He understood that it did a wonderful job of defining sin.  What it could not do was save people from sin.  Only Christ could do that.  Only Christ could “set us free.”

This freedom is not of license to “gratify the desire of the flesh,” but the liberty to be fully human, to be responsible for making right choices, to cooperate with God’s plan of salvation.

People who think of themselves as slaves have a poor self image.  They have little opportunity to develop a sense of self confidence.  Paul did not want that for the Galatians.  Neither did their Savior.

© George Fournier 2013

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 23, 2013

Reflection on Lectoring

“I am who am.”

When Moses tells God that the Hebrews will want to know who sent him, God gives Moses what might sound like a less than helpful answer.  “This is what you will tell the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’ ” (Exodus 3:14).

St. Thomas Aquinas was able to explain the name I AM in clear philosophical and theological terms when he said that for our infinite God, his essence is his existence.

One of the concerns frequently expressed by lectors relates to the words and phrases in Scripture that range from the very profound to the sometimes obscure.  Scripture commentaries try to help by providing background information to illuminate what is unclear.  As with today’s first reading, these commentaries may explain what kind of mourning took place “in the plain of Megiddo” ((Zechariah 12:11).  They may also analyze the rationale for certain numbers like the 153 fish caught by the apostles after a night of catching nothing (John 21:11).

Details such as these were put into the Scriptures for a purpose.  However, just as your hearers in the assembly may not fully understand the equivalency of God’s essence with his existence (no one completely does), neither should we as lectors be overly concerned that every nuance and every obscure name may not be completely understood or remembered.

What is important is that worshipers at Mass have the opportunity to feel closer to their transcendent God.   God gave us the Scriptures - all of the Scriptures - to guide our less than perfect understanding of him and his love for us.

There is no book, chapter or verse in the Scriptures that is superfluous.  They all tell us something about who God is.  But that happens only if we can look beyond the difficult words to the real meaning.

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First Reading  -  Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1
Real Meaning from Difficult Words

In the above Reflection on Lectoring, we suggested that real meaning is more important than a complete understanding of every difficult word.

The name Hadadrimmon mentioned in today’s first reading is one of those difficult words.  Some scholars think that Hadadrimmon may refer to the Phoenician fertility god.  Others think it refers to the name of an actual place near Megiddo where King Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Neco.

“Him whom they have pierced” is another source of uncertainty and debate.  Some think he is a priestly leader, a prophet, or historic figures like Onias III or Simon Maccabeus who were murdered.  Most, however, agree that John in 19:34 makes a connection to the crucified Christ pierced by the soldier’s lance

So where does a lector look for real meaning to share with his or her hearers at Mass?  The process starts with recognizing that the ultimate responsibility rests with the lector, and that the ultimate source of enlightenment is the Holy Spirit.  If God can pour out “a spirit of grace and petition” on people who need “a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness,” he can help the lector give meaning to the difficult words.

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Second Reading  -  Galatians 3:26-29
Unity, Diversity, Identity

Equality comes not from externally imposed laws or regulations, but from the infinite dignity and worth possessed by each individual person as a child of God.  And the proof of that worth was demonstrated by the willingness of the Father to sacrifice his only Son for his children.

Paul begins chapter 3 with the words, “O stupid Galatians!”  Their identity is to be found in Christ not in Jewish normative laws which excluded all non-Jews.  The Galatians’ true source of unity is found in today’s second reading: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

It is a unity and identity that includes the diversity of people living throughout the world . . .   Jews and Greeks. . .  slaves and free persons . . .  male and female. 

When people through the entire world - regardless of their history, ethnicity or economic status can find common ground, something exciting has happened.  Something to be proclaimed and celebrated.

© George Fournier 2013

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 16, 2013

Reflection on Lectoring

“Faith is born from listening, and is strengthened by proclamation.”

These words were spoken by Pope Francis in a homily he recently delivered on the third Sunday of Easter.  Although he was talking about the faith of all Christians, there is, nevertheless, a message that applies in a special way to lectors.

The first reading for that Sunday was from the Acts of the Apostles.  It tells the story of the apostles’ appearance before the Sanhedrin, accused of preaching about Jesus.  Referring to Jesus’ death and resurrection, Peter tells the chief priests that they must “obey God rather than men,” and be “witnesses of these things.”  The apostles rejoice that they can share the good news with others.

Bringing that message to the present day, Pope Francis told the worshipers at Mass that being a witness, “applies to everyone; we all have to proclaim and bear witness to the Gospel.”  He also stressed that each Christian does the same thing in his or her own, unique way:

               “In God’s great plan, every detail is important, even yours, even my humble little witness, even the hidden witness of those who live their faith with simplicity in everyday family relationships, work relationships, friendships.”

In a recent lector reflection, we suggested that a lector’s life circumstances contribute to his or her preparation as a witness to others.  Experiences, relationships, even hardships all shape and inform our understanding of the Scriptures.  They also shape how we share the Scriptures with others.

In describing the work of St. Paul as a witness for Christ, Pope Francis in his homily used three words: “proclamation, witness and worship.”  There could be no better way to describe the ministry to which each lector is called.

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First Reading  -  2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13
Heinous Behavior

If you were to conclude from today’s first reading that King David was acting less than honorably, you would be completely justified.  If you were to read all the details of King David’s misdeeds described in chapter 11 of 2 Samuel, you might be completely scandalized.  By human standards, it would be hard to forgive any part of his heinous behavior.

There is a great amount to think about in this short reading.  How could anyone live with King David’s guilt?  How could anyone who did what King David did expect to receive God’s forgiveness?

How might the people at Mass react to this reading?  Are they likely to think this is just another melancholy Bible story like those they have heard many times before?  Or are they likely to think that people lived by different standards years ago, so you just have to expect those sorts of things?

Perhaps finding an answer to these questions must start with you, the lector.  For your proclamation to have any real meaning beyond a mere recitation of words, you will need to invest time for reflection.  It will take time to reflect on all the conflicting feelings and emotions that this story should arouse in you and in your hearers.

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Second Reading  -  Galatians 2:16-21
Taking a Stand

Paul lays it on the line.

“If justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.”  For Paul, it is “through faith in Jesus Christ” that people are justified, not by adherence to Jewish normative customs.

In the letter to the Galatians, Paul uses strong language when convicting Peter of deferring to Jewish custom and backing out of celebrating the Lord’s Supper with Gentiles: “When Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong” (ch.2, v.11).

In today’s reading from Galatians, the intensity of Paul’s rhetoric is again seen in his repetition of the dismissive phrase, “works of the law.”  For Paul, being truly alive means having Christ alive in him, not through observation of Jewish law.   Being fully alive also means being able to fully witness to faith.

As you witness to faith through this Scripture proclamation, perhaps Paul’s words, “I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and given himself up for me” may serve as a key idea - both for you and for your hearers at Mass.

© George Fournier 2013

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 9, 2013

Reflection on Lectoring

Can being a lector become part of a person’s identity?

Personal identity is important for everyone’s wellbeing, not just for adolescents trying to figure out who they are in a confusing world.  A personal identity is equally important for adults when the circumstances of life run up against basic beliefs and values.

What do I believe and why do I believe it? What do I do and why do I do it?  These are questions about identity.  The stronger the commitment to the answers, the stronger the identity.  In many ways, these same questions and answers can also apply to our role as lector.

Can being a lector affect the way someone thinks about himself or herself, or how he or she interacts with others?  Does serving as a lector contribute to an individual’s effort to fulfill his or her God-given purpose?

People instinctively know when they meet someone with strong beliefs and a strong desire to fulfill God’s plan.  They recognize a commitment to beliefs when they see it in their family members, their friends, and in people with whom they work.

People also recognize how strongly committed are the people who proclaim the Scriptures.  It is a commitment and an identity that can serve as a personal asset for the lector as well as a powerful witness to others.

As you prepare for your next proclamation of the Scriptures you might ask how the ministry of lector contributes to your own personal identity and to the achievement of your desire to fulfill God’s plan.

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First Reading  -  1 Kings 17:17-24
A Powerful Affirmation

By the time the prophet Elijah comes on the scene, the Israelites had suffered irreparable damage to their common identity as the chosen people.  Palace intrigues and infidelities against God had turned the Promised Land into a place of rival factions and fratricidal fighting.  Things got really out of control in 931 BC after King Solomon died as the Promised Land was split into two kingdoms. 

After the split, the Northern Kingdom had a succession of really bad kings, with Ahab being the worst of the bunch.  “Ahab, son of Omri, did what was evil in the Lord’s sight more than any of his predecessors” (1 Kings 16:30).  This was the sad state of affairs encountered by Elijah when he was called by God.

How would Elijah handle this really difficult assignment?

First, he tells Kind Ahab that a really bad drought will scorch his kingdom.  Then he goes to a widow in Zarephath and demands that she give him her last bit of food and a place to sleep.  Then, when her son dies, the widow gets really mad and blames Elijah.  From the very start, this was to be a very difficult assignment.

In today’s first reading, things get a little better.  Elijah asks God to bring the widow’s son back to life, and the widow says, “Now indeed, I know that you are a man of God.”

People need affirmation from other people.  Elijah was never going to hear a kind word from Ahab.  But the widow confirms Elijah’s identity as a “man of God.”  Maybe the word of a poor widow is more helpful than anything that a powerful king can say.

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Second Reading  -  Galatians 1:11-19
Learning on Doing

Here is something to think about.  Lectors are not taught how to be lectors.

They may receive some advice and coaching.  They may also receive assistance in discerning God’s call.  But their spirituality, their relationship with God, and their ability to recognize the ideas contained in the Scriptures are qualities that start with the lector.

The story of Paul’s ministry is a little like that.  In today’s second reading he writes, “But when God, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles. . . ”

Like the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah, Paul was called by God.  God had a plan for him, and it was ultimately up to Paul to listen and respond.  It is fair to say that Paul learned a lot about himself, his ministry, and how to serve God during his twenty years on the road. 

Paul was a very real person who was shaken to the core by his conversion experience.  Most lectors may not fall to the ground while seeing a bright light like Paul, but they do learn and grow in their ministry.  They do value the support they receive from the Holy Spirit.  And their hearers at Mass do learn something important from the example of Paul and from the lectors who stand before them.

© George Fournier, 2013