Questions about the Liturgy

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Tom7

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Good morning.

Quick question please. Is there supposed to be a link between the three reading of the liturgy? Today it was Moses at the burning bush, Assyria being used as a rod for God and Jesus teaching the the truth is a revelation. I can’t see a link? Are they just independent readings with no particular link? Is each section supposed to be taken as a stand alone reading?

Thank you

Blessings

Tom
 
Typically, the first reading and the gospel on Sundays will have a connection, but that’s not always going to be explicitly clear. The second reading may or may not have any relationship to the others. It may be that the readings don’t have an obvious connection, too. This “link” will vary more with different liturgical seasons as well.
 
I remember Scot Hahn telling the story of when he was in the seminary he wrote a paper connecting a reading from the old testament to something in the new testament. He was certain he had found something new in the bible, was really proud of himself. Fast forward a few years, he became Catholic, went to mass one day and the exact two readings from the Old Testament and the Gospels were the exactly the same as the paper he was so proud of a few years earlier.
 
The first reading is God revealing Himself to Moses, and how Moses will reveal Him to the Israelites.

The Psalm specifically references God’s revelation to Moses and the Israelites.

The Gospel is about Jesus revealing the Father to those He chooses.

It seems pretty obviously connected to me.

 
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On Sundays and Solemnities, during Lent and Advent, and when using votive Masses (Mass of the Sacred Heart, Mass for the Sick, etc.) there is an intentional link between the first reading and the Gospel.

During weekdays of Ordinary Time, the readings are sequential - for example, right now the first reading is taken in order from Exodus and the Gospel is taken in order from Matthew.

Today’s readings (July 17) are: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12 and Matthew 11:25-27. Tomorrow’s readings are: Exodus 3:13-20 and Matthew 11:28-30.

During Sundays or Ordinary Time, frequently (but not always) the first reading and the Gospel are sequential. Currently, we’re reading Genesis and Luke on Sundays.

Certainly links can be found during readings when we are using sequential readings, but the linkage of readings outside Ordinary Time is far more intentional.
 
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Agree with what you have said. I just like to add to it.
God has chosen seemingly lowly person to save His people by revealing not to the elites of the day, but in a person whom we least expect to lead and save us.

Moses was a nobody and he even doubts he could do the job, but God has chosen him to save his people from slavery. God didn’t choose the High Priest to save the people. This prefigures the more glorious and complete salvation by Jesus.

The Gospel acclamation says God has revealed to the little ones.

Gospel: Jesus was a carpenter’s son. He died on the cross, the most undignifying way in those times. Yet God has chosen Jesus to save the whole of humanity from the slavery of sin.
 
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On Sundays, solemnities and feasts they are connected but not necessarily on regular weekdays. Priests can do special readings for memorials but it is rare they do.Weekday masses generally are just two readings generally progressing through the entire book for days or weeks, depending on how long it is.
 
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I didn’t see it in the lectionary I linked to earlier. Weekday Masses don’t usually have more than the two readings and the Psalm. Can you share the verses?
 
Got it, it looks like the reader accidentally read an extra reading. That is from last year’s cycle:


That’s the year II first reading for today (the Exodus passage with the burning bush is from the year I cycle, which we are in).

The Isaiah reading shows God bringing low the wicked–especially idolaters–and the mighty.

It is matched with Psalm 94 (this year’s comes from Psalm 69). Psalm 94 is more obviously connected, because it too is about God’s judgment and chastisement of the wicked and caring for the faithful.

The Gospel readings are the same for both years. This is less obviously connected, but I think the connection is God’s rewarding the “childlike” while keeping the “wise and the learned” (in the worldly sense) ignorant (just as he removed His benefits and punished the wealthy nations who did not love and serve Him as His children).
 
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