The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Second Reading – 06/14/2026

Paul drowns us with salvific Good News.  Discover how to deliver this joyful message with excited jubilation.

Transcript

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Howdy, and welcome to Bob the Lector. I'm Bob. The purpose of this podcast is to inspire Catholic lectures to bring their proclamation of God's word to life. I apologize for my voice. I'm fighting the cold, but the liturgy waits for no one. This episode is for the June 14th, Sunday Mass's second reading. It's the eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A, a reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans. Brothers and sisters, Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person, one might even find the courage to die. But God proves his love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath? Indeed, if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life? Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Welcome to the eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, y'all. Or as our pastor says, extraordinary times. It's been four months since we've been in ordinary time. This is an awesome reading. Paul drowns us with an excess of good news, if there is such a thing. So let's get to it, shall we? I always start my own lecture practice with preparation, which is not the external proclamation, but the internal discernment of the message. What is God saying to us? What is his purpose? What is the meaning of this reading? Because if it doesn't mean anything to us, how can we as lectors make it mean anything to the congregation before us? Paul gets into some pretty heavy theology, starting off with an almost pensive reflection, then building to a crescendo of salvific good news. We have an incredible opportunity to connect with the souls before us with a profoundly heart-moving and soul-stirring delivery. One of the tenets of public speaking is to know your audience. Who's the target audience for this reading? It's sinners. So all of us, specifically though, think of those that are ashamed, fearful, or doubtful. Speak explicitly to them. Let them know these emotions do not matter to God. An executive summary of this reading would have two parts. First, Paul's description of humanity as ungodly, sinners, and enemies, three escalating states of alienation from God. Second, in an earth-shaking twist, the revelation how through Christ we are justified, reconciled, and saved. This is insanely good news. Convey the energy of God's saving love with joy, vigor, and enthusiasm. What do you learn from this reading? We begin, brothers and sisters, Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. The salutation, brothers and sisters, tells us we should have a conversational and intimate tone for this reading. Interestingly, Paul had not yet traveled to Rome, yet he addresses the Christian community there with filial endearment. Consider two ways to kick off this reading and choose the one most authentic for you. Brothers and sisters with an upward lilt, or brothers and sisters with a downward one. Whichever method you pick, apply a warm and inviting tone. Note the word helpless in the opening line. This harkens back to the first reading and draws a parallel with the Israelites' powerless subjugation under their Egyptian slave drivers. Use a serious tone when you read Christ while we were still helpless, and a revelatory one for the balance of this sentence. Highlight Christ, helpless, and died. Our next sentence. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person, one might even find the courage to die. In ancient Roman culture, dying for someone was considered noble only if the person was worthy. Paul flips this notion upside down in that Christ dies for the unworthy. Use a reflective tone and demeanor throughout this sentence, as if you're thinking out loud. Emphasize indeed, difficulty, just, perhaps, good, might, and the second die. Insert a micro pause after difficulty. Next we have, but God proves his love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Paul exposes the paradox of God's love. He loves us not because we're good, but to make us good. We embrace humility with a knowledge that salvation is not earned, but is entirely a gift based on God's fidelity, not our own human willpower. Use a bold and forceful tone of voice for the entire opening line. But God proves his love for us. Also stress, still died and the last us. Insert small pauses after the first us and sinners. If you can do so authentically, use a throaty whisper for added emotion when you say, Christ died for us, for added emotion. If you do so, make sure you're close enough to the microphone for your parishioners to hear you. Use full eye contact for these four words. Insert a full pause after died, and with that continued eye contact, close with for us, making sure they know you're talking about every single one of them. Next we have how much more than, since we are now justified by his blood. Will we be saved through him from the wrath? Use a facial expression and tone of voice of intense joy for how much more than, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved? And then taper off to a more serious tone when you finish with through him from the wrath. If you can do so authentically, add a throat tremble for the word more. Stress more, justified, saved, and him. Insert micro pauses after saved and him. This is followed by, indeed, if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his son. How much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life? Continue with a tone of voice and facial expression of joy, building up to an excited jubilance when you get to how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life? Emphasize indeed, enemies, the first reconciled, much more, the second reconciled and saved. We close with a climactic crescendo. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. When you say not only that, think of how you would use that expression in daily conversation to make a powerful closing argument, which is what Paul is doing here. For example, we can achieve this goal. Not only that, we can surpass it. Smile excitedly through this entire sentence. If you can do so authentically, add a throat tremble when you say the word boast, note this braggadocious demeanor has nothing to do with our achievements, but God's. Highlight that, boast, Lord Jesus Christ, through whom, now received, and reconciliation. Insert micropauses after God and whom. Insert a full pause after received, then look up at the souls before you, making direct eye contact with them. Smile even more broadly, letting this pause build anticipation and suspense, and then close with reconciliation, using an upward lilt, as if you're trying to downplay the magnitude of this thing. Well, that's all for now. Thanks for listening. My hope is these ideas will help you find your authentic voice so your proclamation of God's word will transform your listeners, whether they're in pain and broken, or just going through the motions. Because the good news deserves great delivery. Visit us on the web at bobthelecture.org and we'll see you at the Ambo. 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