NEW STEPS IN APPRECIATING GOD’S WORD
Today, we are taking several steps to help all of us at Mary Queen in embracing the life-giving power of God’s Word as it is proclaimed in our Scriptures at Mass. The Vatican II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states: “In His church, Christ is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church…To achieve the restoration, progress, and adaptation of the sacred liturgy, it is essential to promote that warm and living love for scripture to which the venerable tradition of both eastern and western rites gives testimony.”
1. We are treating the book that contains our gospel readings with even more respect.
a. We are decorating it with a beautiful cover to signify how precious the words of Jesus are to us. The cover has been donated in memory of Terry Terhune by his family. From the Introduction to the Lectionary (Introduction): “The Book of Gospels was always fabricated and decorated with the utmost care and shown greater respect than any of the other books of readings.”
b. After the gospel reading, we are displaying the open Book of the Gospels on a stand in front of the ambo as a clear sign that Jesus is among us at Mass through the proclamation of God’s Word.
2. We are reserving the use of the ambo (the “lectern” next to the altar) for the proclamation of the Word of God and usages that flow immediately from it. Introduction: “Since the ambo is the place from which the word of God is proclaimed by the ministers, it must of its nature be reserved for the readings, the responsorial psalm, and the Easter Proclamation (the Exsultet). The ambo may rightly be used for the homily and the prayer of the faithful, however, because of their close connection with the entire liturgy of the word.”
3. We are giving more of our attention to listening to the Word of God at Mass. Introduction: “When God communicates his word, he expects a response, one, that is, of listening and adoring ‘in Spirit and in truth’". (Jn 4:23).
a. We are preparing to hear the Sunday readings in our prayer throughout the week.
i. Individually and together at home, we have prayer that is based on the Scriptures that are proclaimed at Sunday Mass. The citations for the readings are found in the Mass schedule listing in the weekly bulletin. You can also find the readings by clicking on the online calendar at www.usccb.org. Reflections on the readings are found on many sites and apps, including http://www.salvationhistory.com/, http://meditation.regnumchristi.org, http://www.daily-meditations.org/Sunday.html
ii. At parish meetings, in school and in Formation classes, we have age appropriate prayer based on the Sunday scriptures. Those responsible for leading prayer at any monthly meeting in the parish use the Monthly Parish Meeting Prayer found through our parish website www.cdlex.org/maryqueen.
b. At Mass, we put down our books (if we can hear clearly) and pay full attention to the reader.
c. We self-monitor so that we don’t disturb the atmosphere in church if we happen to arrive at Mass while the Scriptures are being proclaimed. In this case, we listen to the Scriptures while waiting in the Gathering Area, and travel to the pews during the Gospel Acclamation (“Alleluia”).
4. We chant the dialogue (“The word of the Lord.” “Thanks be to God.”) at the end of the first two Scripture readings. Introduction: “At the conclusion of the other readings, ‘the word of the Lord’ may be sung, even by someone other than the reader; all respond with the acclamation. In this way the assembled congregation pays reverence to the word of God it has listened to in faith and gratitude.”
5. We are more intentional in our use of the silence after the readings from Scripture and the homily. Introduction: “The liturgy of the word must be celebrated in a way that fosters meditation; clearly, any sort of haste that hinders recollection must be avoided. The dialogue between God and his people taking place through the Holy Spirit demands short intervals of silence, suited to the assembled congregation, as an opportunity to take the word of God to heart and to prepare a response to it in prayer.”
What will be the results of this renewed appreciation for God’s Word at Mass, springing from pure hearts with the aid of the Holy Spirit?
Introduction : “The Holy Spirit makes our response effective, so that what is heard in the celebration of the Liturgy may be carried out in a way of life: ‘Be doers of the word and not hearers only’ (Jas 1:22)…The participation of the faithful in the Liturgy increases to the degree that, as they listen to the word of God proclaimed in the Liturgy, they strive harder to commit themselves to the Word of God incarnate in Christ. Thus, they endeavor to conform their way of life to what they celebrate in the Liturgy, and then in turn to bring to the celebration of the Liturgy all that they do in life… The working of the Holy Spirit is needed if the word of God is to make what we hear outwardly have its effect inwardly. Because of the Holy Spirit's inspiration and support, the word of God becomes the foundation of the liturgical celebration and the rule and support of all our life.” .....Fr. Dan Noll
last updated 09/16/2013 jm
