7. Need to Know the Scriptures

There can be all sorts of reasons that the Liturgy of the Word fails to move or to change us. Perhaps, through daydreaming we are inattentive? Perhaps we miss it by coming late to Mass? Perhaps the lector is poor or the microphones failing? One of the most common reasons is because we did not familiarize ourselves with the readings. There is no rule against looking over Mass readings from the bible at home. The Lord was infleshed in the Word of God long before he was in the womb of Mary. That is why the lector announces, "The Word of the Lord," after a reading. Following the Gospel, the people respond, "Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ." If a newcomer were with you in church, he might ask, "To whom are you talking?" We believe that Christ speaks to us through the Scriptures.