That’s the theme of our mission here at St. Charles Borromeo, Port Charlotte, this week. I said this morning at Mass we can know Jesus Christ better through the Scriptures and that the lectionary read at Mass is one of the ways to do it. The lectionary in our liturgy comes from the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s  which directed that the treasures of the bible be more available to people in our worship.

Now, over the year we read extensively from the bible, both from the Old and the New Testament.

The reading from the Book of Kings today is an example why we read from the Old Testament. Sometimes people wonder about the connection between the Old Testament and the New.

It’s the story of Solomon building his temple in Jerusalem. God who came to Moses on Mount Sinai, who led his people through the desert, would have a permanent place to dwell with his people, the king said.

Later, Jesus would pray and teach in the temple, rebuilt by Kind Herod, and he would claim he was the new temple and the new sacrifice to his Father. He is now God’s presence among us.

“You are the temples of God, “ Paul would write. God is present in us. We offer ourselves to God in sacrifice. We draw others within. Our temples are not to be solitary, they invite all.

I spoke this morning about the mystery of the human presence. The mystery of the cross is present in us and in others. Attention should be paid to it.

On the practical side, I recommend some aids to help pray and reflect with the lectionary. On the internet, the US Bishops’ site has the lectionary readings and some helpful commentaries.

The Passionists offer a homily on the lectionary readings each day. www.thepassionists.org

Some popular printed aids:

Give Us Today, a monthly missal from the Benedictines at Liturgical Press. It has the readings and many of the prayers of the Mass, feasts of the saints, and meditations and prayers.

The Magnificat, a popular missal with the same contents as the above.

Living in Christ, also the same contents as above

Tonight we have a service at 7 PM. Here’s a video summary: