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Last week, we commenced our short series on the Scriptures at Mass by reflecting on the organization of the readings we hear at Mass each Sunday, and how they have a structure and purpose.

Putting together that structure took a huge amount of work. The document on the liturgy from the 1960s' Second Vatican Council asked that "the treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God's Word. In this way, a more representative portion of the holy Scriptures will be read to the people in the course of a prescribed number of years."

That was no easy task!

This week, let's look at the Gospels, which are central to our celebration at Mass. The Book of the Gospels is given special honor by often being carried in procession; it is sometimes incensed, too.

There are a few important things that each of our four Gospel writers -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John -- have in common. We believe that each of the Gospels is the inspired Word of God. The Gospel writers used human words and ideas, but these were inspired by the Holy Spirit; the words are not just human words, but are truly "the Gospel of the Lord."

The Gospels are also the truth about God, about us and about our salvation. In all sacred Scripture, including the Gospels, God reveals and shows Himself to us. The document on Divine Revelation from the Second Vatican Council teaches: "In composing the sacred books, [God] chose men and, while employed by Him, they made use of their powers and abilities, so that with Him acting in them and through them, they as true authors consigned to writing everything and only those things which He wanted."

We read something similar in St. Paul: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproving, for correcting, for instruction in justice; so that we may be perfect, equipped for every good work" (2 Tm 3:16-17).

From this common ground, each of the Gospels has its own flavor and approach, its own perspective and focus. This should not surprise us: The Gospel writers (or evangelists) were different men from different backgrounds and places. The Gospels also were written for diverse groups of Christians (some in Jerusalem and the Holy Land or others in Rome, for example) who faced diverse circumstances and situations.

The evangelists also drew on diverse traditions and accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus. Think of all of us witnessing an earth-changing event. If we were interviewed about that event, each of us would recount many aspects in more or less the same way, but we would also stress some aspects differently. We might have noticed details that others had missed.

This year, we are in Year A (or Cycle A) of our Sunday Gospels, the year of St. Matthew. Next week, we will conclude our reflection on our Sunday readings by taking a look at St. Matthew's Gospel and what particular things he wants to communicate to us about the Gospel, the "Good News" of salvation. To learn more, there are some very good, short guides available for each of the Gospels. This might be a good spiritual reading project for the next few weeks.

Remember once again that the Gospel message is not just meant to be heard, read or even studied; it is, above all, meant to be imitated and lived and shared! As the dismissal at the end of Mass commands us, "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord."

(Father Barratt is director of the diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship. He holds a doctorate in theology and was a professor at St. John's Seminary in England before coming to the U.S. in 2004.)[[In-content Ad]]

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