The Liturgy of the Word, Part 1, by Fr. Joseph Evinger
I will be covering the section of the Liturgy of the Word in two parts as I continue this series on the Holy Mass—one this week and the other after Christmas.
The biblical readings at Mass are assigned by the Church in relation to the season which she is celebrating: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time and Feast Days. On Sundays the first reading is usually taken from the Old Testament, followed by a Psalm, a reading from the New Testament, and then finally a reading from one of the Gospels. These are identical at every Roman Catholic Church across the world.
Because of its necessity to convert and nourish our hearts Sacred Scripture fills the first portion of the Mass. “In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, ‘but as what it really is, the word of God.’” (CCC, 104) Paul, addressing the Hebrews, states this about Scripture, “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Oh, the importance of this first part of Mass that we may be always nourished and reminded of the call to conversion. Yet unless we have faith in God we could week after week hear these readings from Scripture without changing our lives in the least way. God’s grace would bounce off us like water off a duck’s back. Faith and attentiveness to God’s word is quite essential for his grace to penetrate our soul and body that we may be formed into holy men and women. May we allow his word to penetrate us this week and always.