Week 19: Liturgy of the Word: Second Reading

By Archbishop Michael Jackels

Witness Publisher

The Second Reading is always taken from the Acts of the Apostles, or from one of the letters written by Paul, Peter, James, John, Jude, and an anonymous author (Letter to the Hebrews), or from the Book of Revelation.

The Second Reading is often chosen without any connection to the First Reading or the Gospel. Its content helps us to understand what the first Christians believed, and how they translated the teaching of Jesus into everyday life.

At the end of the First and Second Reading, the people respond: Thanks be to God! We are grateful for God’s words that reproach us for our wrongful behavior, correct us, and train us how to live so as to make our way to heaven.