December 16, 2012
Reflection
on Lectoring
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, human beings
composed the sacred Scriptures centuries ago.
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, human beings
continue to proclaim the same Scriptures today.
In a fundamental way, the job of the people who wrote the
Scriptures and the job of people who proclaim the Scriptures are very similar. They both are jobs that involve making God’s
Word present to others. They both are
jobs that are powerfully life-changing.
New lectors experience many strong and often conflicting
emotions when they first approach the ambo.
Excitement and joy. Nervousness
and doubt. Feelings of inadequacy. Feelings of fulfilling God’s purpose. All these are feelings that are present when
answering God’s call.
Experienced lectors often experience these same feelings. But they also discover the ways in which
lectoring can change their lives. Over
time, Scripture takes on a new and more vital meaning. A personal meaning. Over time, sharing the Scriptures involves an
entirely new way of connecting with others - connecting with a church community
while worshiping God together.
Ultimately, lectoring becomes an essential way of
fulfilling our Baptismal responsibility to minister to others. In the process, lectoring also becomes an
essential part of who we are.
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"Baptism and confirmation empower all believers to share in some form of ministry. Although the specific form of participation in ministry varies according to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, all who share in this work are united with one another,"
- Called and Gifted: The American Catholic Laity
U.S. Bishops' Committee on the Laity, 1980
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First Reading - Zephaniah 3:14-18a
A Happy Ending
If all you knew about the Book of Zephaniah is what you
read in the verses of today’s first reading, you would think things were going
pretty well for “daughter Jerusalem.” However,
you might also be surprised to discover that in earlier verses Jerusalem is
called a rebellious, polluted and tyrannical city. A far cry from “Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!”
What is going on here?
What is going on are the failings of Judah’s judges,
prophets and priests who adopted Assyrian pagan practices. The Assyrians had conquered the northern ten
tribes of Israel and were now importing pagan rites into the temple in
Jerusalem. Israel’s covenant with God
had been put on the shelf - at least by the Israelites. In three short chapters, Zephaniah describes
in sad detail how bad things had gotten.
However, at the very end of his book, Zephaniah promises
a happy ending, all due to God’s mercy.
After a great devastation, God will restore the remnant, the people who
are humble and lowly.
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Second Reading - Philippians 4:4-7
Sincerity and Love
Put yourself in the place of those who will hear you
proclaim the second reading this weekend.
What a comfort it is to hear, “Have no anxiety at all.” However, these words will only be comforting if
the lector who says them is both sincere and believable.
Genuine sincerity is essential for believability.
“Rejoice
in the Lord always.” With
these words, what a wonderful opportunity lectors have to lift the spirits of
others. However, it will only be uplifting
if the encouragement to rejoice is real, and not simply an empty expression
that has lost its meaning.
Paul really loved the people in Philippi, a community of
believers he established, and with whom he stayed connected. His love for them shines brightly in every
word and phrase in this passage.
© 2012 George Fournier
