Saints LightWhy These Readings? The Liturgy of the Word
At Mass God speaks to us through readings arranged in a cycle, so that over three years of Sundays we hear much of the Bible, with the Old Testament reading pointing to the Gospel.
What this lesson teaches
- In the Liturgy of the Word Christ himself speaks to his people through the Scriptures.
- Sundays have a first reading, a psalm, a second reading and the Gospel, followed by the homily.
- Sunday readings follow a three-year cycle: Year A Matthew, Year B Mark, Year C Luke, with John woven through.
- The first reading usually matches the Gospel, showing how the Old Testament points to Christ.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 103
- CCC 1100
- CCC 1154
- CCC 1347
- CCC 1349
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: Luke 24:27; Nehemiah 8:8 (2 Esdras 8:8 in Douay-Rheims); Isaiah 55:10-11 (Isaias in Douay-Rheims).
A sample question from this lesson
Which Gospel is read mainly in Year B of the Sunday cycle?
- Matthew
- Luke
- Mark
- John alone, all year
Show the answer
Mark. Year A reads mainly Matthew, Year B Mark, and Year C Luke, with John appearing in all three.
The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.
Words to know
- Lectionary
- The book of Scripture readings for Mass, arranged in a cycle across the year.
- Homily
- The reflection given by a priest or deacon after the Gospel, applying the readings to life.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
Read the full lesson in the app
"Why These Readings? The Liturgy of the Word" is lesson 4 of The Mass, Explained. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
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