WHY IS IT WRONG TO READ THE READINGS DURING MASS?

When the Word of God is proclaimed during Mass, Christ is made present in the hearing of His Word. We know Christ is made present in the consecration of the wine and bread, but we don’t often think that He is also made present in the proclamation of the Word. He is. And the Word is meant to be listened to, not read, at that time. To read the word then involves a different way of being attentive. You are reading, not listening. By all means, read the readings before Mass, most especially during your times of prayer. Then, when you HEAR the readings proclaimed, Christ will become more tangibly present to you in the proclamation. If this concept is new to you, perhaps it would be a very good Lenten fast to undertake - no longer bring your missal to Church. Leave it at home, and prepare yourself there by an attentive reading of God’s Word. Then, at Church, be an attentive listener. God will become present to you in a new and deeper way, and His Word will penetrate you more powerfully. Try it.