Liturgy of the Word: The First Reading

This week we will focus on the First Reading which is the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word. The lector plays a very important role in this part of the Mass. The Lord uses the lector as the instrument through whom he proclaims his Word to the people. Think of this as the lector lending God his human voice so that God’s words can be spoken to us at Mass. The lector’s first reading is usually from the Old Testament except during Easter season when it is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Why the Old Testament? We cannot adequately understand Jesus and the New Testament scriptures without knowing the story of Israel. The more we grasp the many dramatic twists and turns in the story of Israel the more we will be able to understand the story of Jesus Christ and his Kingdom. Vatican II taught that God brought the Old Testament about so that the New Testament is hidden in it. The first readings also correspond to the Gospel readings which illustrates the continuity or contrast between the Old Testament story and the Gospel. Sometimes the readings underscore how the Old Testament prefigures Christ and the Church.

At the end of the first reading, the lector says “The Word of the Lord” which should remind us how marvelous it is to hear God speaking to us through the scriptures. We then express our amazement and the fact that we do not take for granted the connection between the old and the new as we say, “Thanks be to God.” When listening to today’s first reading, let us remember that God is speaking directly to us. We should take time to reflect on his words and resolve to apply them to our lives.