By Father James F. Kelly

The key to much of our learning is to ask the right questions, or to be asked the right questions. To illustrate these insights into our human learning there comes to mind a memorable story that is found in the comic strip “Peanuts.”

The scene is set on the first day of school and Peppermint Patty (who, as we all know, is not noted for astuteness) is seated at her desk. The teacher has just asked Patty the question of the day and, for Patty, this question is obviously a difficult one. Peppermint Patty says to her teacher: “Could you rephrase that question, or on second thought, would there be another question you would like to ask in place of that question? On third thought, could I go out and come back in and start all over again?”

Many questions we are asked, or even ask ourselves, could put us in the same embarrassing situation as our small heroine, Peppermint Patty. We would like the questions rephrased, replaced, or we would simply like to start over again. The question I'm asking here is: Where do we hear the Word of God? Where in our lives, on this journey of faith as Christian Catholics, do we hear the Word of God? Not just hear with our ears, but to hear, to listen, in an active learning way, to hear with our whole being. To hear “the Word” so it will reach to the core of where we live. Hearing the Word of God so that this word nourishes our lives, fills us with hope and deepens our faith in the God who reveals Himself to us. The Father who sent to us the living word in Jesus; the Word made flesh (John 1:1-18).

Together, for this short time, ask yourself the question and together we can seek a response.

Well, you say, to hear the Word of God we need to read the word, study the Bible, pray with the Scriptures. That seems familiar, and obvious. We have spent space and time in these past weeks, looking at Biblical issues. It’s just vital for us as Christian Catholic adults and youth to study this Word of God, to participate in our Parish Adult Bible Study, to pray in groups and in our families with the Word of God.

Much more could be said about adult education in the Bible. However, I would like to reflect with you on that part of the Mass we call the Liturgy of the Word. Here is an obvious time that the Word of God is proclaimed for us to hear, to listen, to take into our lives.

Each Sunday, in 54 parishes and missions of the Church of Atlanta, the Word of God is proclaimed: Isaiah, Hosea, Jeremiah, Genesis, Letters of Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, are read in the context of the community of Church at this special time of the Liturgy of the Word. How well do we celebrate? How meaningful is the experience? How well do we listen? Do we hear the Word of God?

“In the readings the treasures of the Bible are opened to the people; this is the table of God’s word.” (General introduction from the Roman Missal)

The Liturgy of the Word is then a place, a time to hear the Word. The question, again: Do we hear the Word of God in this Liturgy of the Word, or does this Word only echo against the walls of our churches, not really heard, not really taking root in us, God’s people, the People of God?

Yes, there are very human elements in proclamation: the cracking of the PA systems, the inaudible lectors, the sounds of the Sunday morn, that distract us. In spite of the difficulties, this Liturgy of the Word is still a special time to hear the Word of God. An opportunity to hear the Word of God for priest, people, young and old, to use for our growth. In this Word of God proclaimed, God communicates to us, his people. Why not use the time well – as best we can.

Here are a few suggestions that may help you to hear this Word of God, proclaimed on Sunday morning at the Liturgy of the Word, a bit better, with more understanding. Hopefully, too, hearing the Word better will motivate us to study the Bible more, to really nourish our lives with the Word of God. In fact, the assumption is that when we hear the Word proclaimed on Sunday morning it is not the first time we have heard it. The expectation, really, is that we have studied, reflected on these Sunday readings.

Vatican II Council Decree of Revelation reminds us this “access to Sacred Scripture ought to open-wide to Christian Faithful…” Art. 22

Something that I believe we are not always aware of is that in our Lectionary, a major portion of the Bible is proclaimed over a three-year time period. We do hear the word in quantity; now we need to make that time “quality time” as well, to truly be nourished by the Liturgy of the Word; 1) planning good Liturgies, 2) making sure we can hear what is read, 3) helping readers prepare the readings, 4) allowing some reflection time between the readings to think about what has been read (many parishes have special times before Sunday Mass for small groups to discuss and study the Sunday readings before they are proclaimed). To reflect on our life situation and these Scriptures can help us live the Gospel value. A good homily can break the Word apart and apply it to us: a challenge to every priest.

Some of these suggestions are truly obvious and are familiar to us. But, very often, we know the experience of the Liturgy of the Word is not ideal. The Scriptures are read with great speed; no pause is made. The event becomes an exercise, a thing we do. Before we even get settled down, someone is bringing up the gifts. Once again, the Word of God has passed us by. This word proclaimed does not stay with us. We hear the words, but we don’t “hear the Word.” We need to prepared ourselves by personal prayer, by listening, preparing the “ground of us” for the “good seed, God’s Word,” so that it can “take root” in us and in our lives.

Sometimes it is a matter of attitude, an openness on our part to let the Word of God penetrate us, and move us closer to the Father who is revealing, who has, in these last times, revealed Himself in Jesus, His Son. (Hebrews 1:1-4)

I am trying to make a case for an enriched opportunity offered us each Sunday to hear the Word of God at the Liturgy of the Word. So this Sunday, listen to the Word of the Lord. If we hear this Word, it will truly change our lives.

“The Word of God, which is the power of God for salvation, to everyone who has faith.” (Rom. 1:16)

Take seriously what the lectors state at the end of each reading:

“This is the Word of the Lord.”