Listening
Third Sunday in ordinary time - Year C(I)
One of the things we learn from this weekend’s Gospel passage is that Jesus could read. They handed him the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and he proclaimed it to the people in the Synagogue.
In our society the majority of people learn to read and for many of us the consolation of being able to inform and entertain ourselves using this skill is immense.
In the time of Jesus it was the opposite way round; most people could not read. There are many places today where there are still many deprived of an education and sadly this is especially true for young girls and women.
There are some people in our own country who for a variety of reasons have never managed to learn how to read. It is so important that we gently help anyone we encounter in this situation.
On Monday this week we have the optional memorial of Saint Angela Merici whose life has inspired many women, under the general heading of ‘Ursulines’, to work in girls education. We pray for the success of all who campaign and work for the education of the poor, particularly young women.
Just suppose that we could guarantee that everyone in a particular congregation was able to read. Would it be acceptable to dispense with the Reader and instead give everyone a copy of the readings?
It could be argued that this would allow people retain more easily what the passages say.
The truth is that we often have copies of the readings available in Church on Mass sheets or in Mass booklets, and some people buy their own Missals. Are we gradually moving towards making Readers redundant?
Many people would say that they like to have a hard copy because they can’t easily hear what is being said.
It is a challenge to those who read in Church (including – especially, the priest) to proclaim more clearly and effectively. This includes having an effective microphone and loop system.
So what is the point of having someone reading aloud the Scripture passages?
We could say that it allows for anyone who for whatever the reason cannot follow the sheet. Here we must admit that the printed copy can be a challenge when the print is very small; something many of us have noticed lately in Billingham!
When Jesus proclaimed the passage from Isaiah during the Sabbath Synagogue service in Nazareth he said,
’today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’.
There is a deep meaning behind these words. It is one of those extraordinary moments in the telling of the Gospel when Jesus seems to look out from scene described and addresses us directly. He doesn’t just speak to the people on that Saturday morning; he talks to you and me.
Receiving the message of the Bible is more than just hearing words. It is an event in which what is proclaimed somehow changes things – the Scriptures are fulfilled.
On that day in Nazareth the Scriptures were fulfilled in the person of Jesus who spoke to the people; and this weekend at the end of January 2025, and indeed every time we hear this passage he is bringing about its fulfilment in our time and in our place.
Jesus explains and fulfils the Scripture as he speaks to us. Every proclamation of the Scriptures is an act of explaining and fulfilling.
This highlights the special and sacred nature of proclaiming.
The reader has to attempt to make sense of the passage as he or she proclaims it. This in itself is an act of interpretation.
The Church adds something to this. At the Second Vatican Council the Church spoke of the Presence of Jesus in Mass and pointed out
‘He is present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church’.
(The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, article 7).
In other words in the Liturgy of the Word, when the Reader opens his or her mouth, Christ speaks.
It is true that we can take in the words of Jesus when we just sit and read. When we study a passage at home, just quietly reading, there is an opportunity for Christ to speak in our hearts.
Readers in Church raise the experience. They interpret for us and engage with us. It is impossible to read something aloud without trying to make sense of it.
In this way Readers exercise an important ministry; through them we meet and hear Jesus Christ.
So should we abolish Readers in Church? We would be so much the poorer.
Should we help them improve their skills and audibility? Absolutely!
Part of this can come about by encouraging our Readers. It is important we thank them for their ministry and compliment them when they have helped us make sense of the passage. If we find it difficult to hear, then a gentle encouragement to help us hear has its place.
If you read in Church, thank you for your ministry and keep up the good work!
Perhaps you can think of ways in which we could help Readers as they carry out this vital role in our Parish life.
Perhaps you too might like to take up this important way of serving God’s people.