Guidelines For Reading Scripture Effectively

The public reading of Scripture is a skill that can be developed with experience and practice. Becoming sensitive to the nature of the scriptural text and the way in which listeners hear public reading is also an important aspect of this skill development. This chapter prescribes a series of helpful approaches to Scripture reading and gives several examples for how a given passage may be brought to life through public reading. Stress Verb Action As a sample reading, take the second reading for the fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C. Read through Galatians 6:14-18 slowly and prayerfully to gain a sense of the whole passage. Go back to the first sentence. Your first impulse may be to give emphasis to the words,"our Lord Jesus Christ!" Your proclamation would go something like this: "May I never boast of anything but the cross of OUR Lord JESUS CHRIST!" That is a mistake in emphasis. Jesus is important. But what is said and done must be the focus of attention. To sense …