Reflections on the Mass: The Responsorial Psalm

The next Scripture reading in the Liturgy of the Word is the Responsorial Psalm. We remain seated as a lector reads or a cantor sings the psalm response. Then we recite or sing in return. Usually the psalm relates in some way to the First Reading, so we should be watching for shared themes or another kind of connection. Sometimes, for instance, the First Reading calls us to praise, and the Psalm allows us to express that praise in word or song.

There are usually three or four verses in the responsorial psalm, and we recite or sing the response in between them. We should speak or sing out fully, for we are praying to God in the words that God has given us. In fact, the psalms are ideal for both liturgical and private prayer. They express nearly every human emotion, and they allow us to approach God in and through those emotions, bringing Him our joy and sorrow, our fear and pain, our love and excitement, and most of all, our worship.

Reflections on the Mass: The First Reading

At the close of the Collect, the priest and congregation sit as the Liturgy of the Word begins. On Sundays and solemnities, there are four readings, for weekday Masses three. The First Reading is usually taken from the Old Testament although it can also be taken from the Book of Acts during the Easter season or from the epistles for daily Mass. The Lectionary deliberately matches the First Reading to the Gospel in some way, at least on Sundays and solemnities, either presenting a foreshadowing or a shared theme.

If at all possible, we should read the Scriptures for Mass beforehand. This way, we will be more attentive as we listen and more likely to hear God speaking to us in His Word. After all, the more we put in, the more we will get out. God wants to interact with us through Scripture, but our hearts need to be open and ready to listen.

In fact, we sit for the First Reading (as well as the Psalm and Second Reading) to indicate that we are in a position of listening and learning. Remember that when the Scriptures are read at Mass, God is teaching us in a special way, both as a church and individually. We should give Him our utmost attention.

At the end of the reading, the lector declares, “The word of the Lord,” for that is exactly what we have just heard: God's Word proclaimed to us. We respond with our firm and joyous agreement: “Thanks be to God!”

Reflections on the Mass: The Collect

After the Gloria, the priest says, “Let us pray,” and then pauses briefly. We should not let this moment pass us by. This is an opportunity for us to gather all of our prayers together and present them to God, offering them to Him as part of the sacrifice of the Mass. We cannot consciously think of everything in this short pause, of course, but we should at least envision ourselves lifting up our prayers and our hearts to God.

The priest then prays the Collect, or opening prayer. The Collect is written for the liturgical season, solemnity, feast, or saint's day, and we hear a different Collect every Sunday. This little prayer goes by quickly, and we can miss it if we aren't paying close attention. That's why it's important to read and reflect on the Collect outside of Mass. These are beautiful little prayers that capture the spirit of the liturgy and have a lot of depth to them. They are actually something we can return to all week in our personal prayer.

Reflections on the Mass: The Gloria, Part 3

As we end the Gloria, we stretch our minds and hearts up to God, Trinity in unity, unity in Trinity, worshiping Him, one God in three Persons.

For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High,

With these words, we proclaim the one God we worship. We focus on His transcendence. Our minds cannot grasp the immensity of God. Yet we can try, and we do, adoring Him in His holiness and in His authority, declaring in these few words His omnipotence and omniscience.

Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.

Now we proclaim the mystery of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We marvel at this mystery, embracing with wonder and awe what we do not understand. We have been carried to the pinnacle of our faith as we reflect on and declare Who God is.

Amen.

We end the Gloria with a firm Amen, giving our assent to everything we have just recited or sung. We believe, and we rejoice.