杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

杏MAP导航 Francis invited the faithful to place themselves in silent openness to God鈥檚 saving message as it resounds in the ecclesial assembly and is a fundamental aspect of God鈥檚 constant dialogue with his people.

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 words came on Wednesday during the General Audience as he continued his ongoing catechesis dedicated to the Eucharist with a reflection on the Liturgy of the Word.

During Mass, he said, God speaks to his people through the Liturgy of the Word, and the same Holy Spirit who inspired the sacred Scriptures opens our minds and hearts to that living word.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why, he explained, personal choices regarding the readings are not acceptable,鈥� and he invited priests to attain to the readings listed in the Church鈥檚 Lectionary, and not replace them by reading from other sources - such as newspaper articles. This is something, he said, that favours ecclesial communion.

鈥�God鈥檚 Word is God鈥檚 Word! We can read the newspaper later on. In Church we read God鈥檚 Word. It is the Lord speaking to us鈥� he said.

If you chat you cannot be listening to the Word of God
 

The 杏MAP导航 also reflected on the behavior of Church-goers pointing out that if one chats during Mass, one doesn鈥檛 hear God鈥檚 Word. And He urged them to open their hearts in silence to be able to receive His message and then put its indications into practice.

鈥�We need to listen! Since we do not live 鈥榖y bread alone鈥�, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God, we need to be constantly open to, and challenged by, that word, in our lives as individuals and in our life as a Church. This is why we talk about the Liturgy of the Word as 鈥榯he table of God鈥檚 Word鈥� that the Lord sets to nourish our spiritual life鈥� he said.

Active participation
 

The Responsorial Psalm, Francis said, favours God鈥檚 dialogue with his people as it sets the meditative mood for the next reading and he invited the faithful to participate 鈥渁t least in the response鈥�. The Liturgical proclamation, he added, expresses and favours ecclesial communion and accompanies believers in their journey of faith.

We need good readers

Francis also reflected on the need for good readers and psalmists, whom, he said, must practice: 鈥渢his favours an atmosphere of receptive silence鈥� he said.鈥淲e know, he continued, that the Lord鈥檚 Word is an indispensable aid to avoid getting lost: it lights up our path.鈥� he said.

鈥淗ow could we undertake our earthly pilgrimage, with all of its burdens and challenges without being regularly nourished and enlightened by God鈥檚 Word that resounds in the Liturgy?鈥� he said.

In conclusion the 杏MAP导航 noted that it is not enough to listen only with ears, but with open hearts so that the Word can make its way inside us and make itself evident in our hands 鈥渁s we carry out good works鈥�.