Scripture in the Liturgy

The Sunday lectionary uses a three-year cycle based on the three synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, which present a "similar view," syn-opsis in Greek.

Each year we concentrate on one of the Gospels:

• Matthew in Cycle A,
• Mark in Cycle B,
• Luke in Cycle C. 

Joh n’s Gospel is featured primarily during the major seasons or to highlight key elements of our faith, such as the Eucharist.

In the Liturgy of the Word on Sundays, we have:

First Reading 

• Usually from the Old Testament, chosen to complement the Gospel reading
• During the Easter season, it will be chosen from the Acts of the Apostles

 Responsorial Psalm 

• One of the 150 psalms in the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament
• The psalm was originally a song and responds to the First Reading

 Second Reading 

• Chosen from the New Testament writings, other than the gospels
• Often it does not seem to link with the Gospel in ordinary time - it is chosen to invite us to                              to follow an almost continuous reading of one of the epistles
• For the main Church seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, the second reading                           links more clearly with the other readings 

Acclamation

• The Alleluia verse welcomes the Gospel, and it should preferably be sung.
• During Lent, we change the Alleluia greeting to ..........

Gospel 

The Church invites us to ponder the synoptic gospels, almost continuously, one year after                           another, as we encounter Christ speaking to us. 

The Second Vatican Council directed that the lectionary be arranged so that the readings were selected over "the course of a prescribed number of years" to allow for "a more representative portion of holy Scripture" to be read at Mass.