Encountering the Divine Liturgy Part 15: The Liturgy of the Word and the Kerygma of the Church

 

The Divine Liturgy is not merely a series of sacred actions but a living proclamation of God’s redemptive work. The Liturgy of the Word marks the first major division of the Divine Liturgy and centers on the kerygma—the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ. This part of the service is where the Church listens attentively to the voice of God in Holy Scripture and encounters the teachings and life of Christ in the Gospel. From the chanting of the Prokeimenon and the Epistle to the Alleluia and the solemn reading of the Gospel, the Liturgy of the Word draws the faithful into the sacred memory of salvation history, reinforcing that the same Word who spoke in ages past speaks now in the midst of His gathered people. This proclamation is not passive; it calls the hearer to faith, repentance, and transformation.

The Church Fathers understood this moment as the voice of the risen Christ Himself echoing within the assembly. In this way, the Liturgy of the Word is both a catechesis and a mystical encounter. Through psalmody, apostolic instruction, and the living Gospel, the faithful are re-oriented toward the kingdom, prepared to confess the faith, and united in mind and heart as the Body of Christ.

1. The Prokeimenon

The Prokeimenon (Greek: Προκείμενον, “that which is set forth”) is a short psalm verse chanted by the reader or chanter before the Epistle reading. It sets a thematic tone for the scriptural readings, usually reflecting the feast of the day or the liturgical season. It is a dialogue between the reader and the choir, emphasizing the responsive nature of prayer in worship.

Biblical basis: The use of psalms and responsorial verses in worship comes directly from ancient Jewish temple practices (see Psalms 135, 118), which the early Church inherited.

2. The Epistle Reading

This is typically drawn from the Acts of the Apostles or the Epistles of the New Testament, reminding us of the apostolic witness and doctrine. The Epistle is read by a lector, not the celebrant, highlighting the role of lay participation in proclaiming God’s Word.

Patristic insight:
St. John Chrysostom states: “Whenever you hear the Apostle’s voice in church, do not think it is he who speaks, but Christ who opens his lips through him” (Homily on Acts 1).

3. The Alleluia Verses

Chanted after the Epistle, the Alleluia (Ἀλληλούϊα) verses prepare the faithful for the Gospel. The priest or deacon censes the altar, icons, and people — a visible sign of preparation for the presence of Christ in the Gospel reading.

Symbolism: The rising incense represents the prayers of the saints (cf. Revelation 8:4), and the Alleluia expresses joyful anticipation of Christ’s voice.

4. The Gospel Reading

This is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. The deacon (or priest, if no deacon is present) proclaims the Gospel with solemnity, often preceded by the exclamation, “Wisdom! Let us attend!” The congregation stands, acknowledging that Christ Himself is speaking.

Biblical and theological basis:

• “He who hears you hears Me” (Luke 10:16)
  
  

• “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63)
  
  

Patristic witness:
St. Cyril of Alexandria writes: “In the Gospel, we find the very footsteps of the Word of God upon the earth. We read not only His words, but behold His deeds.”
St. Justin Martyr (2nd century) described this order of readings already in use in his day (First Apology, Ch. 67).

Conclusion: The Word Proclaimed, the Faith Ignited

As the Liturgy of the Word draws to a close, the Church has once again fulfilled her apostolic mission: to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to form Christ in the hearts of the faithful. The sacred readings and hymns are not mere recollections of the past but the living Word that “is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:8). The proclamation of the Gospel is the ever-present voice of Christ, offering each soul a personal invitation to communion with Him. The homily, which follows the readings, ensures that the Word is not only heard but interpreted and applied in the life of the Church today.

Thus, the Liturgy of the Word is not simply a prelude to the Eucharist—it is the voice that calls the people of God into faith, repentance, and readiness to receive the Lord. As St. Paul says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The Church, by guarding and proclaiming this Word, continues to shine as a beacon of truth in the world, faithful to the apostolic command to preach the Gospel until Christ comes again.