Last evening, I went to Mass with my wife Theresa and our daughter Gracie May to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption. Now, perhaps you know or don't know. We as Catholics believe Mary (while nowhere equal to God, but definitely hand-picked by God for greatness as close to His as we will ever find ) was taken up to Heaven by God...body and soul. You and I will have to wait to have our bodies and souls reunite. She, on the other hand was first in line after Jesus went back home to have her whole person in the Kingdom. You see, we are not just bodies. We are bodies and souls. Anything less than that, and we aren't human. We believe she was then crowned by the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) as Queen of Heaven, Earth, and everything else for that matter. While Jesus intercedes to the Father at all times, Mary intercedes for us to Jesus...just like at the Wedding Feast at Cana:(http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/2/.
Anyway, our new pastor came out right before Mass asking if any lectors were present. Seeing no one apparently wishing to reply, I told Theresa I'd go offer my services...work scrubs on and all. She told me someone would probably be there to do it...and that I hadn't the training to do it. Funny what we still don't know about each other (or even ourselves) sometimes. First, I told her God understood what I was wearing. Then I said even if someone were there, it couldn't hurt to offer. Lastly, what Theresa didn't know: I had been trained years ago to proclaim the Word of God at Mass! We got a little laugh out of that.
I went and offered, which seemed to please our new friend in black and white. I was pleased to once again be blessed enough to proclaim the Word. Now this isn't to judge or knock other very good people...but I find many lectors wanting in the proclaiming part of lectoring. Some read too fast, others too low, or even with accents too thick to understand. Now I hope that didn't sound wrong. I appreciate genuine Christian people and every effort they make to serve. But akin to the singing and playing of music at Mass, lectoring well is huge in revealing God's Presence at Mass. Yes, I'm picky...but sometimes that's good!
So I went up...proclaimed the first reading, psalm, and second reading...and loved every second of it. There was one woman who just beamed while she listened. Cool, right? Then I turned to Fr. and asked about the Alleluia. I thought he wanted me to read it. Ummmm...nope. So thus I went and sat back down.
I felt rather proud, to be honest. It felt incredible to be able to do that. There were very few present, but I was able to share something with them I had no business sharing. What a gift! Mass flowed for me from then on...more than I'm used to. A peace came over me, and it was wonderful!
After Mass, a good friend came up and told me she was proud of me for helping. Honestly...how difficult was it to offer? Her compliments meant quite a bit though...seeing as I respect her a great deal as a holy woman of God.
On the way out, I told Theresa how much I liked lectoring. She slightly acknowledged me, and kept walking. When we came to the front of the church to speak with Fr., he asked me if I was a regular lector for our parish, to which I replied I wasn't. He said, "Maybe you should be." He paid me the highest compliments as he explained why I had been one of the best he's heard! Say what? Wow...praise God! Basically, Fr. wants to sign me up, and think I'm ok with that. In other words...absolutely!
When I told Theresa I wanted to do it, she told me she already knew I did...because, as she says: "I know you, Paul." Yes, Theresa. Yes you do.
No comments:
Post a Comment