“Get ready for Sunday.” Sounds ominous, doesn’t it? Actually, it is a weekly reminder from Sr. Mary, my instructor for Introduction to Sacred Scripture. In every class outline she distributes, the first item listed under assignments for the next class is “Get ready for Sunday!” To that end, the readings for the 31th Sunday in Ordinary Time are Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10, 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13, and the Gospel from Matthew 23:1-12.
Sr. Mary tells the class she starts getting ready for Sunday every Tuesday evening when she first prayerfully reads the Gospel. Throughout the rest of the week she revisits the Gospel, reading, meditating, praying, and contemplating the message from our Lord. I can’t say that I prepare that much, but I have found looking over all the readings helpful in getting more out of Mass each week.
Two sources I have begun using to help me to “get ready for Sunday” are the Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of the Word and The Catholic Study Bible, Second Edition. As a lector at the Church of St. Colman of Cloyne, I was given a copy of the Workbook. It has extensive “footnotes” that aid in understanding the readings, in an effort to help the lector get the message out. The Study Bible has footnotes also, as well as a Reader’s Guide that provides a wealth of information on the books of the Bible. Both resources are available via online bookstores if you are interested.
Peace,
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