We are all familiar with the Liturgy of the Word: three readings punctuated with a Responsorial Psalm and an Alleluia followed by the homily and the Prayer of the Faithful.  When Vatican II affirmed the central significance of Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church, she took steps to give Catholics a greater exposure to it in our worship and daily life. Scripture study was encouraged and the readings at Mass were revamped to include more selections from the Old and New Testament.  Even devotions, such as Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament called for scripture readings.  Over a three-year period, we hear all four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s letters (almost in their entirety), other New Testament letters and a wide sampling from the Old Testament.

    You may wonder what is the rhyme and reason for the selections.  Knowing the seasons of our liturgical year is a help here.  Our two great mysteries: the Paschal Mystery (Easter) and the Incarnation (Christmas) each have a season of preparation (Lent and Easter) and a time after the celebration for pondering the meaning (Easter Season and Christmas Season).  The three readings are carefully chosen to deepen our understanding.  The responsorial psalm is a meditative response to the first reading.

    When we are not in a special liturgical season, we are in ordinary time, so named because the Sundays are numbered (ordinals).  The three readings do not fit together as well.  The first reading is chosen to alert us to or echo a theme or event in the gospel.  The second reading, usually a letter from Paul, is read consecutively regardless of its connection to the other two.  Remember the rationale for the selections is to expose Catholics to more of the Bible.

    The homily following the gospel has as its purpose to break open the scripture so that God’s word can shed light on how we are to live our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.  The words can be encouraging, challenging or both.  We conclude the Liturgy of the Word with an exercise of our priestly identity—the Prayer of the Faithful.  Relying on God who is trustworthy and compassionate, we bring our concerns that God’s kingdom become a reality by prayers for ourselves, our community, our church, our nation, and our world.