21. LECOM & Bible Apostolate

21. Lineamenta on LECOM and Bible Apostolate

LECTORS AND COMMENTATORS’ MINISTRY AND BIBLE APOSTOLATE

God reveals himself and his love, goodness and mercy in the Word-made-Flesh, Jesus Christ who is the primordial revelation of God the Father. God’s self-communication through Him is unfolded through creation and events enshrined in the Holy Scriptures wherein the Word of God becomes history to reveal Him who wills that we should have “life of fullness” (John 10:10). When we read and reflect on the Holy Scriptures or the Bible, we proclaim the word of God. “When the Scriptures are read in the church, God himself is speaking to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, is proclaiming the Gospel. The readings must therefore be listened to by all with reverence; they make up a principal element of the liturgy” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal [GIRM], 1975, #9). The preaching of the word of God by those involved in the Ministry of Lectors and Commentators and the Bible Apostolate has a very essential place in the life of the Church and the faith of the people. “The preaching of the word is necessary for the sacramental ministry. For the sacraments are sacraments of faith and faith has its origin and sustenance in the word” (Presbyterorum Ordinis [PO], 1965, #4). The nourishing, sustaining and holy word of God entrusted to them to be proclaimed to the people requires the Lectors, Commentators and Preachers the personal integrity and transparency needed for their prophetic task. They must be “truly qualified and carefully prepared in order that the faithful will develop as warm and lively love for Scripture from listening to the reading of the sacred texts” (GIRM #66). It is not only a sense of duty to immerse into and to pray the scriptures but also to be one with God through His word to be nourished and be deepened in our spiritual life.
In this Ministry of the Word, Lectors have a place of prominence since their main task is the proclamation of the Word of God to the community. This Ministry of Lectors has been for centuries a “minor order” reserved for the clerics as a preparatory stage for priestly ordination but in 1972, Pope Paul VI converted it into an instituted ministry accessible also to lay persons. The Lector has three major tasks: 1) the proclamation of the Word of God in the liturgical Assembly; 2) the instruction of children and adults in the faith (catechesis) and 3) the preaching of the message of salvation to those who have not yet received it. The Lector follows the norms and guidelines for the proper fulfillment of his task like: (i) to proclaim the word of God from the Lectionary, (ii) to maintain eye contact with the assembly, (iii) to avoid unnecessary gestures, (iv) to know when to pause, (v) to have proper attire, posture, pronunciation and diction, and (vi) to be committed to the Lector’s tasks and follow their assigned portion since the readings are assigned to the different readers and at different dates.
The Ministers of the Word has a well defined set of requirements like: a) he must be an exemplary Catholic, b) at least 21 years old, c) adequately literate, d) has completed the seminar established for his proper training and formation, e) has a firm will to render faithful service to God and the Christian people and f) has signed a petition made out to the Ordinary who has the right to accept it. “Lay men whose age and talents meet the requirements prescribed by decree of the Episcopal Conference, can be given the stable ministry of lector and acolyte through the prescribed liturgical rite. This conferral of ministry does not, however, give them a right to sustenance or remuneration from the Church.” (Canon 230, s.1)
The Ministry of Lectors, Commentators and Preachers of the Word of God is a commitment to keep. St. Paul has this message for them: “preach the Word, in season and out of season…So be prudent, do not mind your labor, give yourself to your work as an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:2, 5).

Questions for small group discussions

1. How should our Ministry as Lectors, Commentators and Preachers be in our parishes and basic ecclesial communities?
2. How can we have a good, meaningful and effective Bible Apostolate in our parishes and basic ecclesial communities?
3. How can we systematize and have a common formation program and curriculum for the training of our lectors, commentators and preachers in our diocese?