First Reading Part 2

‘FIRST READING: PART 2’.

The Mass: About the Mass Vol 2 icon.

How does posture make a difference in the Liturgy of the Word?

The Liturgy of the Word begins with a posture body change.

Now we sit, not just to give us a rest, but so that we can listen attentively to the Word of God. We sit as one faith community, expressing something of our communal bond we share.  Body posture is important. How we sit can either help or hinder us to being in tune in mind body and spirit to the Word of God.   

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) stated:

‘In human life, signs and symbols occupy an important place.  As a being at once body and spirit, man expresses and perceives spiritual realities through physical signs and symbols.  As a social being, man needs signs and symbols to communicate with others, through language, gestures, and actions.  The same holds true for his relationship with God’. (Para 1146, p.297). 

Background of First Reading.

 From what does the lector read?  It is called a Lectionary.  We listen to the First Reading, taken from the Old Testament.  It is chosen in relationship to the Gospel. But you may wonder- why do we read the Bible when we celebrate the Eucharist? 

The oldest celebrations of the Word according the Bible coincided precisely with the first celebration of the Covenant of Sinai according to Exodus 24:1-11. First there is the proclamation of the Word: Moses took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people who declared: ‘Everything that Yahweh has said, we will put into practice and we will obey’. (Exod 24:7) Then there is the sacrifice of the Covenant:  Moses took the blood of the victims that had been immolated, sprinkled it over the people and said: ‘This is the blood of the covenant that Yahweh as made with you in accordance with all these words’. (Exod 24:8).

The structure is exactly the same as the Mass of today.  First there is the proclamation of God’s Word, then there is the sacrifice when the priest, at the consecration, repeats the words of Moses: ‘this is the blood of the Covenant’, and the words and action of Christ at the Last Supper.  Finally, there is the meal of communion in the reception of the Eucharist. 

Second Vatican Council (Vatican 11) spoke of the ‘extreme importance of God’s Word’. The Church has always venerated the Divine Scriptures as she venerated the Body of the Lord. The Council speaks about the ‘real presence of Christ in the Word’.

In the previous translation of the Mass, the First Reading ended with ''This is the Word of the Lord''.  In the current translation of the Mass, it ends with ':The Word of the Lord.
The thinking behind this change is that by just finishing it with ''The Word of the Lord'', it is as though God has signed His name to end it.  It is also to ensure that the last phrases of the reading remains in our hearts.

It should also be noted that there is a 3-year Sunday cycle (Years A, B, and C), so that all 4 gospels and major sections of the Old Testament are reviewed.  Cycles change beginning with Advent of the previous year and end always on the Feast of Christ the King. For example: Year A commenced on first Sunday of Advent 2017 and will continue until Feast of Christ the King (generally the last Sunday in November).  

On weekdays however, there is a two-year cycle.  Year 1 is for odd number years and Year 2 for even number years.  These alternating cycles are not used for Lent and Easter as this aids our renewal in these seasons of spiritual growth.

So how well do you listen to Christ in the’ real presence’ of the Word?