Sometimes the role is defined as “reader” and sometimes as “lector.” What it is called matters less to me than what it provides the opportunity to do. I don’t believe it is to read.

The role of the “reader” or “lector” is to share with attendees at Mass the biblical readings for the specific Sunday. Each Sunday has different excerpts from the Old Testament, Psalms (if they are not sung by the choir), and the New Testament (usually from St. Paul). I filled that role at different parishes for years but stopped about 25 years ago. I was blessed to have the opportunity to again serve that function and have been doing so a couple of Sundays per month for the past few months. I look forward to continuing to do so. I do my best to not read to the congregation, though.

My goal is to proclaim.

There is a big difference between reading words from a page and proclaiming a message; the former is heard, the latter is felt. Proclaiming is not showy, theatrical or dramatic; it comes from the heart that swells with belief.

I think this applies in conversations, too. Expressing our faith in words is more than recitation; it is bolstered by courage and shared with love. There are a lot of times in life that we need to proclaim, quietly, humbly and sincerely to help change the world.