Listening to the
Proclaimed Word
Those receiving the proclaimed Word in the congregation need to develop
the habit of listening attentively to the proclamation. This habit can
be improved by developing attention skills – for example, by listening
to the proclaimed Word and not reading the text at the same time from a
book or leaflet.
By all means, in preparation, read
the texts at home – but not during the Liturgy. It’s even a bit of
an insult to the one giving the proclamation to read it for yourself
at the same time.
Some say they also need to read the
text at the same time to maintain their attention and to reach a better understanding
of the message. Again, it is largely a matter of habit or manners: one can
train oneself to listen attentively with comprehension.
When the reader proclaims well, let
your appreciation be reflected in your eyes and faces. If the opportunity arises, compliment the reader on a ministry well
exercised. If the reader, through her or his expression, has enabled a new
insight into the scriptures to come to you, talk about this with others and see
that the good news gets back to the reader, with gratitude.
Many readers have probably had the
experience of trying to communicate to an apparently apathetic congregation.
When everyone looks bored, or far away in some dreamland, it’s hard for
the reader to be enthusiastic in the ministry of proclamation.
If a reader looks at a congregation
and sees glazed eyes as if there is nobody home behind the blank faces, how do
you think the reader might feel. (This blank-trance phenomenon is probably much
more common in large congregations, than in small ones! Perhaps there is a
message in that?)