Liturgy of the Word - Our Story

Reflections on the Liturgy of the Word Reading the Epistle You may remember the days of the Mass in Latin or the Tridentine Liturgy as it was known. The way the scriptures were read at Mass was quite different from today. After the Gloria & Collect (opening Prayer) the priest moved to the right side of the altar for the reading of the Epistle, which was taken from the New Testament Letters. The priest, facing the altar, read the text, which was in Latin. While the priest moved to the centre of the altar, the Server moved the Missal Book containing the readings, to the left side of the altar where the priest read the Gospel, taken from one of the four Gospels. The texts used were the same each year. Reading the Gospel Then the priest turned facing people or went to a pulpit and read these passages in the language of people and gave a sermon. For the English translation of the scriptures, the Douay–Rheims Bible was used. Very few texts from the Old Testament were used. Catholics were not very familiar with Old Testament scripture, not being encouraged to read the Bible. I remember in grade 8, we had a book with selections of Old Testament stories, in a paraphrased form, which we read – Adam and Eve, the Flood, Moses and the Ten Commandments, the Exodus, etc. Then in the 1960’s, following the Second Vatican Council, the structure of the Liturgy for Mass was changed. One major change was the way scripture would to be chosen and read in the Mass. Now, the Sunday liturgies would have three readings, one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and a Gospel passage. Verses from the Psalms would also used throughout. These readings are spread over a three year cycle so that the whole of the New Testament and much of the Old Testament is now heard, and read in the local languages of the people. Now Catholics are hearing much more of the Old Testaments stories, and often the God they see in the Old Testament seems unlike the God of the New Testament – like God destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah together with  every man, woman, and child in them; then in the gospel reading, Jesus is seen showing compassion and mercy to the sinner – revealing God as a loving and merciful Father. The new form of the Liturgy Word is meant to be an experience of the whole story of who we are, how we got where we are now, and where we hope to arrive. Now we see the big picture view from an historical perspective – a people gradually discovering the true nature of God, and God’s plan for us. People of the ancient world saw their gods as fearful and vengeful, with little concern for people. But the people of the Old Testament gradually began to see a different God – a God of Mercy – ready to forgive. Finally in Jesus – a God who is a loving Father, intent on bring home his wayward sons and daughters. Finally with reading from the New Testament, the Liturgy of the Word completes our story. As the scriptures are read, we experience being drawn up into them – now we will add new chapters until all is complete. I think of the Liturgy of the Word as a family, gathered around the family table, listening to the family stories. The grandparents remembering and telling the family stories as they remember them from the past and the lessons learnt; the present generation confirming the stories and handing them on to the next generation who listen intently, confirming their own identity in the family and being inspired to go forward with confidence to add new chapters to the family story.

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