My Words Will Not Pass Away: Reflections on the Weekday Readings for the Liturgical Year 2021/22

'Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away' (Luke 21:33)

At the weekday Eucharist we read from sections of all four gospels in the course of the liturgical year. The reflections in this book are based predominantly on the gospel readings for the weekdays of the coming liturgical year, 2021/22, with occasional references to the first reading. They follow the sequence of the weeks of the calendar year, beginning on the 29th November, Monday of the first week of Advent. In the course of the liturgical year, the gospel readings present us with a significant selection of the words and deeds of Jesus from all four gospels. In and through these gospel readings we encounter the living word of the risen Lord to his church. There is rich fare here to nourish our faith life and to help us to grow in our knowledge and love of the Lord. These short reflections attempt to listen to the Scripture passages on their own terms, while showing how they can continue to speak to our church and our world today. Many people feel drawn to basing their prayer on the Scriptures, in particular the gospels. It is hoped that these reflections will serve as a help to prayer for people of faith. They may also be of service to priests who seek to offer a short reflection on the gospel reading of the day to their parishioners. In parishes where, from time to time, there is a Liturgy of the Word in place of Mass, the Minister of the Word might read the corresponding reflection after the gospel reading. On most week days, the same readings are proclaimed in the church throughout the world in the setting of the Eucharist. To read and reflect upon the readings for the weekdays of the liturgical year is to go on a spiritual journey with the universal church.