Why 2 gospels on some Sundays?

[utah_rose]

I’m a lector at our parish, and we prepare by reading a Workbook that prints the readings and Gospels for each Sunday. Lately I’ve noticed that there are readings sometimes for either years A or B! I thought we began year B on the First Sunday of Advent? Why would there be a choice between the two?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

This is due to Lent being a special time of preparation for those who are to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. An optional part of this preparation is what’s called “the scrutinies.” These very special rites that are celebrated on the middle three Sundays of Lent, at liturgies where those to be baptized are present.

According to the rubrics for the Scrutinies (emphasis added):

The scrutinies should take place within the ritual Masses “Christian Initiation: The Scrutinies,” which are celebrated on the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent; the readings with their chants are those given for those Sundays in the Lectionary for Mass, Year A. In every case the ritual Masses “Christian Initiation: The Scrutinies” are celebrated and in this sequence: for the first scrutiny the Mass with the gospel of the Samaritan woman; for the second, the Mass with the gospel of the man born blind; for the third, the Mass with the gospel of Lazarus.

So if a parish is celebrating the Scrutinies they would use Year A, if they are not then they would use the current year’s lectionary readings.