Though a lector at St. Peter’s Catholic Church for a few
years now and, before that, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, it was Dr. Monte
Luker, professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary, who first instructed me in lector best practices. I’m not going to
try to blame any of my bad habits or errors on my friend and former teacher,
but will try to explain what I took away from the directions he offered and why
I read as I do.
The objective of a lector in worship is to draw the
attention of the worshipers to the words without any injection of personality
or slant or opinion and without calling any attention to himself or herself.
This principle links back to the first sentence of the blog which states the
importance of “hearing” over that of reading. I believe this is the reason
that, at Ebenezer Lutheran, lectors wore simple robes at the ambo. Even
clothing and style should not distract from the hearing of The Word.
My way of fulfilling that objective is to read with
sincerity, reverence, and awe, slowly and carefully pronouncing and emphasizing
each word, completely without drama, while avoiding a monotone. I admit that
may be a fine line. But, if I am reading the words of St. Paul, I want the
hearers to hear and consider all the words but not any interpretation I may
have of them. I am not playing the role of St. Paul, trying to imagine how he
might have spoken, but am simply conveying what he wrote, omitting or
diminishing nothing. To quote my former Pastor Frank Honeycutt, “There are no
throwaway words in the Bible.”
So, I keep my eyes on the written page and do not try to
make eye contact with listeners. Intermittent eye contact seems to me would
imply that the words being spoken at the time of eye contact are especially
important and are from me to the hearer. Even if I were to memorize the
scripture to be read, I would still consider it important to keep my eyes glued
to the printed page to assure accuracy and to avoid the impression that it is I
doing the speaking or that I am emphasizing one point more than another. As a
lector, I am only a mouthpiece.
Let me hasten to say that these guidelines I try to follow
do not apply in any way to the pastor or priest or teacher charged with
exegetical responsibility. The best delivery for such persons is without script
and with continuous eye contact and appropriate drama and emphasis to make the
points deemed most important for the persons present, at the current time,
after careful, prayerful, and inspired study of the written expression of the
Word of God. That is a much heavier burden than just reading it.
And, I must confess that my practices are contrary to the
instructions in the Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of
the Word, United States Edition, produced by Liturgy Training Publications.
But, I do the best I can and am always willing to step aside for someone who
wants to serve.
Yes, it is I at the ambo, reading, eyes down as promised. I do look up for the announcement, "A reading from the____ chapter of ______," and for the closing, "The Word of the Lord."
