Second Sunday of Easter
April 7, 2013

Reflection on Lectoring

Self-abnegation.

What a thought-provoking word.  Do people whose purpose in life is to serve the needs of others make the greatest difference?  Or do people who influence others in order to advance their own cause have more impact on the world? 

Serving and influencing are not mutually exclusive.  Christ did both.  He was the model of the servant leader.  What is mutually exclusive, however, is the desire to serve others on the one hand, as compared to controlling others for personal gain. 

Lectors understand the difference.   In today’s society, there are many self-serving messages aimed at people every day.  By comparison, a minister of the Word seeks to serve others first, and, in offering that service, provide an invitation to the assembly to be encouraged, enlightened and changed by the Scriptures.

Cardinal John Henry Newman understood the concept of self-abnegation.   He understood the importance of subordinating his needs to God’s plan.  In the collection of his meditations entitled Meditations and Devotions he wrote, “Let me be Thy blind instrument.  I ask not to see - I ask not to know - I ask simply to be used.”

Cardinal Newman was a person of great influence both before and after his conversion to Catholicism.  God used him and he answered, “Yes.”  Lectors may never fully know how others benefit from their service.  But they can be certain they have an important and unique role in God’s plan.  With that knowledge, they can also come to a better understanding of the meaning of self-abnegation.

“I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.  He has not created me for naught.  I shall do good, I shall do His work.”  -  Cardinal Newman

________________________

First Reading  -  Acts 5:12-16
Nonstop Action

Chapters 4 and 5 of Acts describe scenes of nonstop, almost chaotic activity.  There are even touches of humor along with great danger and fear lurking close by.

The fear is evident in the words, “None of the others dared to join them.”  For good reason.  Right before the story of today’s first reading, Peter and John were preaching in Solomon’s portico when the Sadducees took them into custody and threatened bad things if they continued preaching.

However, that threat does little to slow the apostles down.  After being released, Peter and John go right back to Solomon’s portico and are arrested once more.  Unfortunately for the Sadducees, an angel gets them out of jail in the middle of the night, and when the Sanhedrin convenes the next day, they find that Peter and John are back out in the streets.

Of course, the apostles get arrested for a third time.  And, after some backstage maneuvering by a Pharisee named Gamaliel, they are flogged and released.  You can read Acts chapter 5, verse 42 to find out what the apostles do next. The guys who are supposed to be in charge are looking a little foolish.

In their preparation, lectors might also reflect on the chaotic scenes of the “large number of people from the towns” who crowd around the apostles, and who “even carried the sick out into the streets” to be healed.  This is not a quiet, uneventful passage.  These were not quiet, uneventful times.

___________________________________________

Second Reading  -  Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
Blessed be . . .

In the Book of Revelation John has some nice things to say about lectors.  Right in the very beginning of the book in chapter 1 verse 3, he presents the first of seven beatitudes that are reminiscent of the Sermon on the Mount.  The first of these beatitudes reads, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message.”

Apocalyptic literature like the Book of Revelation was written in times of hardship and

persecution.  People needed to hear that God was ultimately in charge, and that the people who practiced “endurance” would share in God’s ultimate victory.

The sometimes cryptic references to gold lampstands, gold sashes, and fantastic beasts were well understood by the people of the time.  They were a powerful way to paint memorable pictures in words.

What was not symbolic was the island of Patmos, a Roman prison colony in the Aegean Sea, a little more than 13 square miles in size.  Neither was the “distress” of persecution experienced by many Christians.

What then should a lector do with obscure images that convey a very real, very urgent message?  Perhaps chapter 1 verse 3 offers the best suggestion.  Read this weekend’s entire passage out loud.  Record your reading.  And listen to what the assembly will hear this weekend.  John said you will be blessed.

© George Fournier, 2013