Lector Workbook by Faith

 I'm still practicing for my Lector assignment for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  Specifically 1 Kings 19: 16bm 19-21, is my conundrum. How to read "Go back!"

To read it didactically would be a command.  And I can't help but interpret a didactic reading of "Go back!" as "Well if you have to do that, then forget about it.  Come, or Go back!"  

So I'm tending towards reading it very softly and gently tilting my head or maybe shrugging my shoulders to convey the idea that it's OK with Elijah that Elisha goes back.  I ran this idea to my friend who reads, also.  She doesn't think I should read it the way I'm thinking.  She thinks I should read it didactically and the Holy Spirit will move each person in ways appropriate to each.

But!

Then why did I never understand it the way Elijah meant?  I always wondered--always, always, wondered why Elisha was accepted by Elijah when Elijah snapped "Go back!"  Besides, I think the Holy Spirit is moving me to read it very gently to convey that Elijah accepts Elisha's reasons to go back.

I know.  I drive myself crazy.

Here's the rub.  You see the book above.  The introduction explains how lectors should read.  And it agrees with my friend.  The lector should read in as straightforward way as possible rather than use inflection, pitch, or movements.  

I'm shocked. It doesn't make sense.  Does it make sense to just didactically read questions, commands, and exhortations in the same tone  The book also tells the Lector not to smile!!!  That's terrible.

Here's my take on Lectoring:

You start practicing a month before your assignment.  You do lectio divina on your reading.  If you are reading the First Reading, the Responsorial Psalm, and the Second Reading, then that's three lectio divinas. For the First Reading, also read the Gospel and do lectio divina on that.  For the Second Reading, look at the Second Readings for the previous couple of weeks.

A week before you practice reading aloud.  This will be a surprise because how you pronounce in your mind may not be what you say.  You may stumble, stutter, slur, etc., and you would have never have known that unless you say it aloud.  Besides, there are names and Hebrew words that you need to practice.

Now, the reading itself  has come.  First, and very important, is smile.  You smile first to the entire congregation because you are reading Good News and your shoes aren't too tight, so you don't have a painful expression on your face.  Also, before Mass begins, pick out three people--one near the left wall of the church, and one near the right, and one in the middle.  Introduce yourself to them and tell them that you are the lector for the Mass and you will be looking at them to see if they can hear you.  If they can't they are to shake their heads "No" and cup one hear.  If you are talking too fast they should motion with their hands to slow down.  Likewise they need to use their hands to signal that you should speed up.  And these are the people you smile to.

Now, begin and proclaim.  If you've prepared like I just instructed everyone will hear the Good News.

Go but Come Back

 This is my first attempt at this type of Bible Journaling.  This is the Gospel of Luke 9: 57-62.  I'm assign as Lector, the Sunday this Gospel is written.  Of course, I don't read the Gospel, but to fully prepare, I read all the day's readings.  That being said, the First Reading is 1 Kings 19: 16b, 19-21.  In it, the opposite seems to be said.

In Kings, Elisha is allowed to go back and say goodbye to his parents and to distribute his accumulation of goods.  But Jesus says if you have to go back then you can't be my disciple.

I take it for granted that Jesus can read hearts and knows that the young man is just looking for an excuse.  But I still wonder if that young man eventually will do what Elisha did.

That's not my conundrum.  How do I read Elijah telling Elisha "Go Back!"?

How should my tone convey go back and do what you need to  do to follow me?  

I am thinking of shrugging my shoulders as I tentatively say, "Go back."

A friend suggested that I just read it any ole way and let the Holy Spirit interpreted it for each person.  What do you think?

Kiss Goodbye

 

LECTIO:

1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21

The LORD said to Elijah:
“You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah,
as prophet to succeed you.”

Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat,
as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen;
he was following the twelfth.
Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,
“Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,
and I will follow you.”
Elijah answered, “Go back!
Have I done anything to you?”
Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them;
he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh,
and gave it to his people to eat.
Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Studium:

When Elijah threw his cloak on Elisha, Elisha knew that Elijah was giving his his job. I think of it as a speaker giving his gavel to the new speaker.  

MEDITATIO:

When Elijah answered, "Go Back!" He was not taking the job offer back, he was telling Elisha, OK, go back.  We all can't just flit here and there.  We have responsibilities to complete.

When my friend Karen entered the convent, she had to find a good home for her beloved dog. She sold her car. IOW, she tied up her old life to be free to enter the convent.

ORATIO:

I wish I were free of responsibilities so I could devote myself to God.  I love going on retreat.  There I have nothing to do but pray, read, and eat. But my vocation isn't being a contemplative.  It's being a Lay Dominican with family responsibilities.  I need to do those jobs well.

CONTEMPLATIO:

Lord I trust that you gave me the life I live.  I certainly would never have become a Lay Dominican with an apostolate of prison ministry.  You gave me three children and now two grandchildren. I do my best to tell them all about You.  Help me to bring them closer to You.

RESOLUTIO:

This week I'm bringing my grands to Adoration.  Speak to them, O Lord.

All the Way or No Way

 Luke 9: 59-62 always bothered me.  ...He said, "Follow me," But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."  But He answered him, "Let the dead bury the dead.  But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home."  Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."   

It seems that Jesus doesn't want us to say proper goodbyes to our families, or even perform obligatory necessities, i.e., bury our dead.  But it all became clear when I read the Elijah and Elisha story.

1 Kings 19: 19-21

Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth.  Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.  Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you."  Elijah answered, "Go back! Have I done anything to you?"  Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat.  Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Throwing a cloak over someone evidently meant that you were chosen to follow the prophet.  Elisha was willing, so willing that he destroyed his means of making a living.  He slaughtered his oxen and had a "goodbye" cookout.  The fuel was the equipment Elisha used.  Now, Elisha had absolutely nothing to hold him back.  He could now follow Elijah.

Jesus wants us to be fully committed.