The title of my talk this evening, as many of you no doubt have recognized, comes from the Catholic

Liturgy of the Mass. More precisely, comes from the first of the two major parts of the Mass,

the so-called Liturgy of the Word. In that liturgy of the Word, the gathered assembly,

that is to say, the Church,

hears the words of Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament, read aloud.

At the conclusion of which the reader or lector says,

the Word of the Lord, Verbum Domini in Latin,

and the assembly collectively signals its grateful

reception thereof by responding in unison with the words, thanks be to God.

I'd like to begin our reflection this evening by placing this liturgical event in our minds

and imaginations, and then suggesting that it encapsulates,

at least implicitly, perhaps an entire Catholic theology of Scripture.

Let me gesture briefly here at some of the dimensions captured in this event,

even though our time this evening does not permit us to explore all of these.

So here are some reflections on that.

At this particular liturgical moment that I've just gestured at,

scripture is located and encountered within the church.

The gathered assembly.

The assembly gathered to encounter the risen Lord in both

word and sacrament. Scripture is here proclaimed aloud so as to be heard by the entire

assembly. Scripture is heard and thereby received by all, communally, in unity.

Scripture here is understood to be the voice and word of the living Lord, the risen Jesus,

...