The purpose of the Liturgy of the Word is to reveal to us the life of Christ through the proclamation of the Scriptures and so nourish our faith in God. The life of Christ is summed up in what we call the Paschal (Passover) Mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection.
This Word of God is creative, effective, faith-nourishing, illuminating because of the Holy Spirit. The Catechism states:
"The Holy Spirit gives a spiritual understanding of the Word of God to those who read or hear it, according to the dispositions of their hearts...so that they can live out the meaning of what they hear, contemplate, and do in the celebration." (CCC#1101)
When the Word of God is proclaimed in the Mass, we are guaranteed that Christ will speak to us through his Scriptures. "When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his word, proclaims the Gospel" (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 29).
Once the Opening Prayer (Collect) is prayed, the People who have been standing now sit to listen to the Word of God.
(Please note: The following description refers to the Sunday Mass. Daily Mass has a modified structure and differs from the pattern of Sunday)
The First Reading is from the Old Testament (except in the Easter Season when it is taken from the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament). The Old Testament Reading is always related to the Gospel passage. It may be related by the themes of special liturgical seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, In Ordinary Time it is related directly to the Gospel in such a manner that it interprets or enhances the meaning of the particular Gospel being proclaimed.
The Lector begins the Reading by saying, "A Reading from ...[the name of the Old Testament Book or the Prophet is cited]." At the end of the Reading the Lector says "The word of the Lord." All respond "Thanks be to God." We give thanks for the Word of God and I shall refer to this again when we discuss the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
After the First Reading follows the recitation or preferably singing of the Responsorial Psalm. Aone source explains:
"It is essential, however, that we understand the reasons for the normative place of the psalms in the Church's prayer. The Christian community inherited the psalms from the Jewish community, who, in these poetic texts, expressed in very human terms the ups and downs of their journey to faith in the one true God. The Christian community recognized this story as their own; more importantly, they recognized Christ as the fulfillment of that story, the endpoint of the salvation history journey... When the Church prays the psalms, then, 'it is the very prayer which Christ himself, together with his Body, addresses to the Father'. (Vatican II: Sacrosanctum Concilium, 84)." (See "Sing to the Lord and Psalmody in the Life of the Church," HERE)
The Second Reading is from a New Testament Letter or Book. In a special Liturgical Season it is related to the themes of that season. In Ordinary Time, a Letter or Book of the New Testament is read "in order," that is, sequentially Sunday by Sunday. It thus would only coincidentally relate to the Gospel Reading which is also being read sequentially, or in order, chapter by chapter. It is also introduced as "A Reading from ...[the Letter or the Book by title]." At the end of the Reading, the Lector again says "The Word of the Lord." All say "Thanks be to God."
After hearing the two Readings, a change occurs in the Liturgy of the Word. It is time for the Proclamation of the Gospel. Over time, the Church developed a whole repertoire of signs of reverence for this moment in the Liturgy. All centers first on the Gospel Book. It sometimes has a beautiful cover to highlight the esteem we have for the Gospel. The Gospel Book is a Book separate from the Lectionary, which contain the other two Readings and Responsorial Psalm. The Lectionary also contains the Gospel readings, but often this separate Book of the Gospels is used.
The Gospel Book is carried in the Entrance Procession. It is placed upon the Altar, highlighting the relationship of the "Table of the Word and the Table of the Sacrament."
When it is time to proclaim the Gospel, the Alleluia is sung (except in Lent). The Deacon is the designated minister who proclaims the Gospel, or in his absence the Priest. The Deacon asks the Presiding Priest (or Bishop) for a Blessing ("Your Blessing, Father"). The Priest says:
"May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips,
that you may proclaim his Gospel worthily and well,
in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit."
that you may proclaim his Gospel worthily and well,
in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit."
If there is no Deacon and the Bishop is presiding with a concelebrating Priest who will proclaim the Gospel, the Priest asks for the same Blessing.
Otherwise, the Priest goes to the Altar, in front of the Gospel Book and prays quietly, making the sign of the Cross: "Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel."
The Deacon or Priest takes up the Gospel. He proceeds by either a short route or a longer one to the ambo in a procession. He may be accompanied by servers with candles. Incense may be used to reverence the Gospel before it is proclaimed. The Gospel is sometimes (though rarely) chanted.
The the Deacon or Priest says:
"The Lord be with you."
All respond: "And with your spirit."
The Deacon or Priest then says "A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to...[the Gospel title is said]"
As marks the Gospel with a small cross with his thumb, he also similarly marks his forehead, lips and heart with the same small cross. The People do the same, and say "Glory to you, O Lord." This suggests that the gospel be on all our minds, lips, and hearts.
Then the Gospel is proclaimed. Afterwards the Deacon or Priest says; "The Gospel of the Lord." The People respond, "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ."
Here we see that we are acknowledging that Christ is the unseen One proclaiming his Gospel.
The Deacon or Priest then kisses the Gospel he has proclaimed in reverence and prays quietly: "Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away."
So much ceremonial around the proclamation of the Gospel shows how important this Gospel is to the Church.
Next Week: The Homily
