Part 2 of 4

We listen

Liturgy of the Word

At Emmaus: Jesus explains the Scriptures, and afterwards they say: “Were not our hearts burning?” (Luke 24:27, Luke 24:32).

Posture for this part. We sit for the readings, the psalm and the homily, and stand from the Alleluia through the Prayer of the Faithful, except during the homily (GIRM 43).

Part 2: We listen

7The readings and the psalm

What you’ll see: a reader at the ambo, the stand the Bible is read from. On Sundays there’s a reading (usually from the Old Testament), a psalm sung by a cantor, and a second reading (usually from a letter written by an apostle).

This is God speaking to us, not someone reading old stories, so sit and really listen. On Sundays, try to spot what connects the first reading to the Gospel.

Do Sit, listen, and sing the psalm’s response.

Say “The word of the Lord.” — “Thanks be to God.”

For parentsThe theology behind this moment, and where every fact comes from

Where this comes from

Teaching “When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people” (GIRM 29).
Teaching On Sundays there are three readings: from a Prophet, an Apostle and a Gospel. In Easter Time the first comes from the Acts of the Apostles instead of the Old Testament (GIRM 357).
Teaching The readings are chosen to show how the Old and New Testaments fit together (GIRM 57).
Teaching The psalm helps us think about what God has said (GIRM 61).
The psalms are the Bible’s songbook, and Jesus prayed them too: on the cross he prayed the opening of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).

What the labels mean: Teaching, Tradition and Tip.