In its July 19 weekly bulletin from the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Christ King Catholic Parish in Wauwatosa shared a reflection on a story from Scripture. 

“When we gather at Mass, we make present again the stories (sacred Scripture) that we inherited; we reconnect with who we are, and knowing who we are requires knowing where we came from,” the reflection reads. “These ‘roots’ give context to help us to better understand ourselves and provide a basis from which to move forward with confidence and courage.”

In Vatican II, we rediscover the Word of God and how important it is to us as the Church of Christ for every day of life, not only Mass. Through the scripture, we can see the heart of God. 

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Scriptures have a way of revealing aspects of God in a poetic and image-laden way, and the first reading helps to prepare us to hear the Word of the Lord. 

“When I hear the Hebrew Scriptures, I often envision the two travelers who encountered the risen Jesus on the Road to Emmaus, hearing how these ancient words have been fulfilled and acting as stepping-stones that lead us to our risen Lord,” the bulletin says. 

The Responsible Psalm provides us with the opportunity to connect the first reading to the theme, connecting it to the Gospel itself. The second reading is likely not connected to anything but provides important context for the challenges faced by the early church and how it relates to us in the modern world. 

“In this reading, we get to hear of the early Christian communities struggling to get along with one another, grappling with the mysteries of their faith, and striving to be good disciples — themes that resonate with us today,” the bulletin says. 

Following the second reading, our hearts are ready to receive the Gospel.