November 24th, 2013
Reflection on Lectoring
Making a genuine commitment must always be preceded by asking
sincere questions. How important is the
goal? How much of myself can I commit to
achieving that goal? Is it the right
goal for me?
These same questions apply to the commitment to serve as
a lector.
In a recent monthly meeting of our parish lectors, we
started with a prayer by John Henry Cardinal Newman. It is a prayer humbly expressing our
confidence that God already has the answers to our questions and will guide us
in committing to what is right. In part,
the prayer says:
God
knows me and calls me by my name. . . .
God
has created me to do Him some definite service,
He
has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.
I
have my mission --
Somehow
I am necessary for His purposes…I have a part in this great work;
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;
I
shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending
it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.
Let
me be Thy blind instrument. I ask not to
see--I ask not to know--I ask simply to be used.
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First Reading - 2 Samuel 5:1-3
The King Maker
Saul was a great king.
But his day came and went (the Philistines cut off his head). Saul was replaced by David who also had his
troubles, but he was sufficiently obedient that God put him in charge of a
unified Israel. On the world scene
today, there are all kinds of leaders who come and go - some more ignominiously
than others. Today, on the feast of
Christ the King, we are given the opportunity to consider how earthly kings and
leaders measure up to the eternal king.
When God commanded the prophet Samuel to anoint Saul as
king, it was with the expectation that he would follow the Mosaic law. Even as the most cursory look at the history
of Israel shows, a fairly high percentage of its kings - starting with Saul -
failed in their most basic responsibility.
Pride and political expediency often outweighed obedience to God and his
law.
Today’s first reading recounts the final step in the
unification of Israel under David. The
elders of the northern tribes come to David and claim him as their brother, “Here we are, your bone and your flesh.” They are also impressed with his credentials
as a leader in battle.
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Second Reading - Colossians 1:12-20
Mystery, Awe and Wonder
Sometimes it can feel like there is a loss of mystery, awe
and wonder in our lives. The commonplace
is all there is. Even words that once
elevated our emotions have become overused, abused and unable to offer inspiration. Not so, however, with the words of today’s
second reading.
In today’s reading from Colossians we encounter real
poetry and song, real beauty and brilliance, and the transcendent reality of
our kingly Lord. It offers us a joyful
hope that we have been made “fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.”
The reading also offers us glorious words that describe a
king who is above all things but who is never disengaged from his creation: “He is before all things, and in him all
things hold together.” It says he is
our incarnate king who is our window on the infinite greatness of God: “He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation.”
© George Fournier 2013
