March 30, 2014
Reflection on Lectoring
“The truest beauty is the love of God, who definitively
revealed himself to us in the paschal mystery.
The beauty of the liturgy is part of this mystery; it is a sublime
expression of God’s glory and, in a certain sense, a glimpse of heaven on
earth.”
- Sacramentum
Caritatis
Heaven on earth. That
is what the above apostolic exhortation authored by Pope Benedict said about the
liturgy. It is an experience of beauty
that transcends the ordinary without bypassing the images and symbols of
everyday life. Indeed, in the ordinary
we can see a reflection or a trace of God’s divinity.
In his writings, Catholic theologian Hans von Balthasar
strongly makes the case that once the perception of God’s innate beauty
disappears, it becomes impossible for the ordinary person to see any value in
being religious. Once you can calculate
every aspect of life and eliminate all mystery, there is no need for God (see: The God Question and Modern Man and The Glory of God).
Do the liturgy and the role of the lector keep the beauty
and reality of God alive in our lives?
Does the liturgy allow us to see the sacred in our lives? Is the liturgy truly an essential part of
living as a complete human person?
Lectors play an essential role in making God real to
hundreds of people - that is what proclaiming the Scriptures is all about. Even the most ordinary stories in Scripture such
as tending sheep, banquets and physical good looks offer traces of the hand of
God (see today’s first reading).
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First Reading - 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
Looking in the Right Direction
“The
Lord looks into the heart.”
God was not too keen on the idea of a king for his Chosen
People. He was right. Their first king,
Saul, soon disobeys God, and God tells Samuel to find a replacement. That is where today’s first reading picks up
the story.
At first, Samuel is not too happy with his
assignment. He is afraid that king Saul
will kill him if he finds out what he is up to.
So God and Samuel cook up a little deception. In the guise of offering a sacrifice, Samuel
invites Jesse and his sons to a banquet.
When they get there, there is a surprise announcement waiting for them.
Even Samuel is in for a surprise. God wants the youngest son to be king.
A few Sunday’s ago in a reading from the Book of Sirach,
there is a verse that reads in part, “He
understands man’s every deed” (15:19).
Today’s first reading demonstrates how well God understands peoples’
motivations and inclinations. He knows
in advance what will happen. However, he
does not interfere with our free will, no matter how much trouble we get
ourselves into.
The story of Samuel, Saul and David makes the message of “living as children of the light” found
in today’s second reading all the more imperative for our wellbeing. We do not always see things as God sees them. But our vision will be much improved if we
look in the direction illuminated by the light provided by God.
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Second Reading - Ephesians 5:8-14
How to Live Despite What You May Have Been Told
“Rise
up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light
has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick
clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears
his glory” (Isaiah 60:1-2).
This is the exuberant passage that was proclaimed a few
months ago on the feast of the Epiphany.
Although today’s second reading is more toned down than Isaiah’s
proclamation, it tells us that “the light
produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.” In simple terms, there really is a way to
be happy in life.
The people who attend Mass this weekend have just spent
the week being told that happiness comes from possessing things. The message that success is measured by what
you own is in the very air they breathe.
And yet, you, as lector, are going to tell your hearers something
completely different. You are going to
tell them to “live as children of light.”
Isaiah and Paul used
two different approaches when talking about the light. However, the truth of what they said has
stood the test of time. Perhaps that is why
the need to hear that message never diminishes.
Perhaps that is why your proclamation will still be vitally important
this weekend.
© George Fournier, 2014
