Without skipping any passages we’ll make our way from chapter 1 through chapter 8—beginning with the Lord’s baptism, which we heard yesterday, up through the Lord’s feeding of the five thousand during his public ministry. During these few weeks of Ordinary Time before Lent, we will read of healings and exorcisms, parables and teachings and miracles.
Why do we read from the Gospels in this way? Why do we read from the scriptures at all at Mass? After all, at the Last Supper, Jesus said, take and eat, take and drink, he didn’t say take and read.
In scripture we find that God’s Word precedes His presence. Before, the Son of God became incarnate in the womb of the Virgin Mary, his presence was first announced by an angel. When God spoke to Mary, she responded obediently, “Let it be done unto me according to Thy Word.” She first receives the Word of God and then she becomes pregnant as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Similarly in the Mass, we first listen to the Word of God prior to the reception of the Word Made Flesh in the Eucharist. And so, the liturgy of the Word in the celebration of Mass is of great importance.
We should not be in a hurry just to receive the Eucharist. We should savor the Word of God spoken to us, and attend to it with great attentiveness.
The 2nd century Church father Origen of Alexandria spoke of the importance of carefully and attentively listening to the Word of God, saying that we should have the same care in listening to the Word of God at Mass to receiving the Eucharist. He said, “You who are accustomed to take part in divine mysteries know, when you receive the body of the Lord, how you protect it with all caution and veneration lest any small part fall from it, lest anything of the consecrated gift be lost. For you believe, and correctly, that you are answerable if anything falls from there by neglect. But if you are so careful to preserve his body, and rightly so, how do you think that there is less guilt to have neglected God’s word than to have neglected his body.”
So over the course of these weeks before Lent, pay attention to Word of God, savor it, savor the details of the Lord’s words and works, "Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God" as was prayed in the gospel acclamation today, and take care to retain what you hear, to cherish it like our Lady in your heart, that you may be drawn deeper into the divine life, and be a beacon of God’s presence in the world, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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That the preaching and teachings of the Pope, Bishops, and clergy may be a source of strength and guidance for the Holy Church.
That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.
For the liberation of those bound by evil, those committed to sin an error, those oppressed or possessed by evil spirits, and for the conversion of the hardest hearts.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.
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