^{The Gospel for Monday, September 22 is Luke, chapter 8, verses 16-18. I am commenting on verse 18, which is as follows in the New Revised Standard Version: "Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away."}

^{What constitutes the more or less? I suggest that it is grace. More specifically, the grace and power of Jesus Christ. How does this grace and power increase? One of the most powerful ways, is to pay close attention at the proclamation of the Word, during Liturgy.}

^{There appears an article this week on the Association of Catholic Priests website, in which, a former Catholic priest, now married, suggests that he doesn’t want to just read in the Church. How is it that this priest does not realize the extreme importance of the lector, the reader/proclaimer of the Word of God? Yes, it is us, little people in the pews, that have this ministry, including women. This ministry of the proclamation of the Word, is central and vital to the liturgy. Why? This is when the Word of the Lord goes out, and is possibly sown for the first time with someone, or as the verse above suggests, adds to a person’s understanding, and therefore increases the person’s power and grace in Jesus Christ.}

^{The readers, and in particular, the first reader, must be a living temple of God’s Word, and must be committed to the Lord, in such a way, as to be prepared to evangelize while proclaiming the scriptures. Ideally, the lectors, ought to be students of the bible, as well as, students of theology. Any studies that add to the strength of their lector ministry ought to be pursued.}

^{The scriptures are not to be read like today’s newspaper. The first reader must look at the congregation, and engage them, speak authoritatively, and use the correct emphasis and pauses. Most of all, the lector or reader must value, savour, believe, and love every single syllable of the Word. The Word must be the Life for the lector, and this ought to be communicated every time the lector is engaged in this ministry.}

^{No doubt, that one of the reasons, people are attending Church, is to hear the WORD OF GOD. As the verse says, in Luke 8, verse 18, "listen, so that your grace increases" (reinterpreted by me) This has a better chance of happening, if the readers are solid and well prepared. I cannot stress enough, the importance of the lector ministry. Someone’s evangelization and increase of grace might well depend on it!}

--------------