April 20, 2014
Reflection on Lectoring
Last week, we quoted from the mission statement of my
parish that identified us as a “welcoming community sent to serve as Christ did.”
For all parishes, a sense of community is essential for achieving
active participation in the liturgy. The
Mass is an act of communal worship. Not only
an opportunity for individual prayer and reflection. For lectors that same sense of community is
essential for a complete understanding of their ministry.
One of the most important characteristics of community is
a feeling of identity. While not
excluding diversity and individual differences, it is the kind of identity that is built
on a common narrative - a narrative that defines who we are, where we came from,
and where we want to go.
In his book The End
of Education social critic and educator Neil Postman says the purpose of
narrative is to “provide people with a sense of personal identity, a sense of
community life, a basis for moral conduct, and explanations of that which
cannot be known (scientifically).”
A similar observation can be found in the thoughts of
Pope Frances. The book Pope Francis His Life in His Own Words
contains a series of interviews with the then Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio. In one of his interviews, Cardinal Bergoglio
equates identity with a sense of belonging.
He uses the word patria to
describe the legacy that is handed down from generation to generation - a
legacy that must be strengthened by each succeeding generation.
Mass is an act of communal worship in which Catholics
strengthen and share their legacy and the narrative of who they are. And one of the most important places where
that narrative is to be found is in the reading of the Scriptures.
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First Reading - Acts of the Apostles 10:34a, 37-43
Life Stories
The Scriptures were written about people, for
people. For people who have all kinds of
needs. For people who are trying to
understand who they are. Why they are
here. Where they are going. Today’s first reading from the Acts of the
Apostles is the story of one unique man who came into this world. Worked hard to fulfill his purpose in
life. And died.
This man rose from the dead and returned to his Father in
heaven. And because he was true to his
mission, Christ changed the world. Following
his example, each one of us can also change our world. It is, in fact, what God wants us to do.
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Second Reading - Colossians 3:1-4
Life, Death and Hope
In his first Letter to the Corinthians Paul argues that
Jesus’ resurrection is proof that the resurrection of the dead is possible for
all people. He tells the Corinthians if
they failed to believe this basic truth then, “your faith is vain, you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ
have perished” (1 Corinthians 15:17-18).
Because of their doubts Paul had to argue that everything Christ did,
including his resurrection, was for us and is a source of genuine hope.
In today’s second reading to the Colossians Paul again
offers hope and reassurance that those who are “raised with Christ” will “appear
with him in glory.” Through our
baptism we receive a new identity. Our
old self dies and we are born into a new community of believers who are able to
“seek what is above.”
Very little time passed between the pain and sorrow of
Good Friday and the hope offered by Easter Sunday. Mourning the loss of the Messiah had only
just begun when two angels announced to the women at the tomb that Jesus was
alive. Little wonder that when the women
related what they saw and heard to the apostles, “their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them”
(Luke 24:11).
© George Fournier, 2014
