What is meant by the Liturgy of the Word in the celebration of the Eucharist?
The liturgy is divided into two parts: the liturgy of the word and the liturgy of the Eucharist. On Sundays and solemn feast days there are three readings. The usual pattern is one reading from the Old Testament; one from the Acts, the Letters or the Book of Revelation; and the third is always from one of the four gospels. On the weekday celebration there are normally two readings. The first is from either the Old Testament or the New Testament (other than the gospels); the second is from one of the gospels. St. Justin writes, “The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits” (1345). In the instruction for the celebration of the Eucharist today, we read “When the Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself is speaking to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, is proclaiming the Gospel” (General Instruction, Chapter Two, 9). A significant integral part of the celebration of the liturgy of the word is the homily or commentary by
