Monday, August 30, 2010
Ministry of Lectors
Reflection for the Ministry of Lectors
(From Austin Fleming's
book "Preparing for Liturgy, a Theology and Spirituality")
Yours is a share
in the work of the Lord’s
Spirit
who opens our hearts to
God’s holy word.
Yours is the task
of telling our family story, the story of salvation.
of telling our family story, the story of salvation.
Yours is to proclaim the true and saving word
of God.You are the messenger of
God’s love for us.
Your task is to proclaim a word
that challenges,
confronts and captures our hearts.
You proclaim a word that heals and comforts
and consoles.
Yours is the ministry of the table of God’s
word,
which feeds the hunger and the longing
of our hearts for the
truth.
Yours is to offer the
story
of the “great things the
Lord has done for us”
that we might turn to the
table of eucharist
with good cause to give
thanks and praise.
Yours is nothing less
than the ministry of the
Lord’s voice
Come to your work from your personal prayer,
praying that the Spirit will open your heart
to what you proclaim.
to what you proclaim.
Prepare the word which is
yours to speak:
Study the scriptures, understand the passage,
let it dwell deep within
you.
Come to your work
in awesome reverence of the word you proclaim:
in awesome reverence of the word you proclaim:
it is the Lord’s word.
Come to your ministry
as one judged and saved by the word you speak.
Anyone can read the
scriptures in public;
only the believer can
proclaim them.
Approach the ambo,
the table of the Lord's word
as you would the Lord
himself:
with reverence and awe.
Handle the book of the
Lord’s word
with great care:
It is a tabernacle of the
Lord’s presence.
Let your eyes fall often
on the faces of the
assembly:
They are the body of the
Lord
whose word you proclaim.
Let the Lord’s peace
settle in your heart,
that your voice may be
clear and steady.
Let your voice echo the
sound of the word
with conviction,
with gentleness,
with gentleness,
with strength,
and with wonder.
and with wonder.
Remember that the story
you tell
is filled with a drama you
need not supply
but must always convey.
Like the prophet,
you will sometimes proclaim
what no one wants to hear;
remember always your own need
to hear the hard saying
to hear the hard saying
and never imagine that
your ministry
places you above what you
proclaim.
If you are the best of the
parish lectors,
be gentle in helping
others to improve.
If you are the least of
the parish lectors,
seek out that help which
others can give.
If you do not know how
well you read - ask:
Be grateful for constructive criticism
and humbled by any praise
you receive.
Every lector wants to read
at the Easter Vigil
but not all will be
assigned:
Be patient in waiting your
turn
and be nourished by the word that others proclaim.
Let no minister of the
word
think that there is
nothing left to learn:
another commentary and
another workshop
cannot but help the open
mind and heart.
When your brothers and
sisters
praise and thank you for
your work,
take delight in the word
they have heard
and rejoice in the work
the Lord has accomplished
through you.
Be faithful in the work
you do,
for through it the Lord
saves his people.