September 30, 2012
Reflection on Lectoring
Last week, we started this series of reflections by looking
at some of the possible reasons why you choose to answer God’s call as a lector. We recalled Jeremiah’s words about feeling
strongly encouraged by God to proclaim his word, even in adversity.
This week, we’ll consider a lector’s desire to share compelling
Scripture stories about people, their faith and their calling from God.
In An Introduction
to the New Testament, Raymond Brown lets St. Paul tell his story of personal
commitment in his own words:
“Often
near death; five times I have received thirty-nine lashes from Jews; three
times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I have been
shipwrecked; a night and a day I passed on the watery deep; on frequent
journeys; in dangers from rivers; in dangers from bandits; in dangers from my
own kind; in dangers from Gentiles; in dangers in the city; in dangers in the
wilderness; in dangers on the sea; in dangers from false brethren; in toil and
hardship; many times without sleep; in hunger and thirst; many times not eating;
cold and not clothed; and besides other things, there is on me the daily
pressure constituted by anxiety for the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).
This above Scripture story is about a real person and his
real faith. The Bible is full of many similar
stories just like Paul’s.
In today’s first
reading (see below), you will read about another person who was stretched to
the limits of human endurance, all because he followed God’s call. As a lector, you get to be inspired by these
stories. You also get to inspire others
through your proclamation at Mass. A
very good reason to be a lector.
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First Reading - Numbers 11:25-29
As Much Help as Possible
The Old Testament seems to make no effort to hide the
crankiness of the Israelites. First, they
demanded something to eat, and the Lord gave them manna. Then, they began to remember all the “fish we used to eat without cost in Egypt,
and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic” (Numbers
11:5). That memory caused them to complain, “If only we had meat for food!” (11:4).
Moses could not take all this griping anymore, and told the Lord, “I cannot carry all this people by myself. . . if this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face my distress” (11:14-15).
So the Lord decided to help Moses who was recognized as being “very humble, more than anyone else on earth” (12:3). The solution was to find seventy of the elders of Israel to share the burden.
That brings us to today’s first reading. And to more griping.
Joshua is unhappy that Eldad and Medad were included among the seventy elders upon whom the Lord bestowed his spirit and the gift of prophesy. But Moses, who wanted as much help as possible, responds, “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!”
At Mass, the Lord’s spirit is available to the entire assembly. There are no specially privileged people. Everyone can help. And the lector is privileged to proclaim to all of them.
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Second Reading - James 5:1-6
James, Jesus and You
Moses could not take all this griping anymore, and told the Lord, “I cannot carry all this people by myself. . . if this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face my distress” (11:14-15).
So the Lord decided to help Moses who was recognized as being “very humble, more than anyone else on earth” (12:3). The solution was to find seventy of the elders of Israel to share the burden.
That brings us to today’s first reading. And to more griping.
Joshua is unhappy that Eldad and Medad were included among the seventy elders upon whom the Lord bestowed his spirit and the gift of prophesy. But Moses, who wanted as much help as possible, responds, “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!”
At Mass, the Lord’s spirit is available to the entire assembly. There are no specially privileged people. Everyone can help. And the lector is privileged to proclaim to all of them.
_________________________
Second Reading - James 5:1-6
James, Jesus and You
Today’s second reading completes a five-week exploration
of the Letter of James. Throughout its
five chapters, this letter offers guidance on moral and ethical behavior. Like Old Testament Wisdom literature, it presents
advice and exhortation (parenesis is
the technical term) that guide productive interactions with other members of
the early Christian community.
Today’s specific advice warns against pursuing riches at the expense of the poor. Although “the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud,” the rich, who have withheld their wages, are told that they will “weep and wail over your impending miseries.” In the end, the rich will suffer more than their mistreated workers.
Last week, although we suggested that much of the advice given by James involves basic fairness and common sense, that does not mean there is no benefit to hearing it repeated. The challenge is to proclaim this somewhat harsh message in a way that does not turn people off.
Perhaps the way Jesus said the same thing during the Sermon on the Mount might help: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where you treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Matthew 6:19-20).
When James, Jesus and the lector offer advice in a way that shows they care about their listeners, the advice is more likely to be heard.
Today’s specific advice warns against pursuing riches at the expense of the poor. Although “the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud,” the rich, who have withheld their wages, are told that they will “weep and wail over your impending miseries.” In the end, the rich will suffer more than their mistreated workers.
Last week, although we suggested that much of the advice given by James involves basic fairness and common sense, that does not mean there is no benefit to hearing it repeated. The challenge is to proclaim this somewhat harsh message in a way that does not turn people off.
Perhaps the way Jesus said the same thing during the Sermon on the Mount might help: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where you treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Matthew 6:19-20).
When James, Jesus and the lector offer advice in a way that shows they care about their listeners, the advice is more likely to be heard.
© 2012 George Fournier
