The Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time – Second Reading – 08/23/2026

After eleven chapters of overthinking, it’s as if St. Paul’s brain is worn out, and his heart bows in worship and wonder.

Transcript

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Howdy, and welcome to Bob the Lector. I'm Bob. The purpose of this podcast is to inspire Catholic lectors to bring their proclamation of God's Word to life. This episode is for the August 23rd Sunday Mass's second reading. It's the twenty first Sunday in ordinary time, year A, a reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans. Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God, how inscrutable are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor, or who has given the Lord anything that they may be repaid? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. The word of the Lord. Welcome to the twenty first Sunday in Ordinary Time, y'all. This is an awesome reading. It's Paul's ecstatic exclamation of faith. So pull out all the stops for this one. Exude joy your whole time. 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? Some historical context might be interesting. Paul's writing from Corinth around 57 AD to a mixed Christian community of mostly Gentiles, but some Israelites, navigating persecution, including martyrdom. His readers are a small minority struggling to survive in the heart of the pagan Roman Empire. One of the tenets of public speaking is to identify your audience. Who might need to hear this? Think of those before you who are pointlessly suffering. This reading provides some consolation, in that God has his plan, even when we don't see or understand it. Be a source of hope and optimism. This is Paul's summation of the gospel in hymnic form. As such, it has a discernible structure with two triad components. The first talks about the depth of the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God. The second comprises two sentences, asking three questions, each taken from Old Testament Scripture. Express this reading from beginning to end with the same intense joy and passion Paul has. What lessons do you get from this reading? We begin, O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. How inscrutable are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways. It seems for eleven chapters now, Paul's been thinking, or if he asks me, overthinking, and his mind finally gives up, and his emotions take over. It's as if he stops explaining and starts adoring. His brain has reached its limit, and his heart bows in worship and wonder. Read the first sentence with eye contact, an enthusiastic awe and astonishment, building intensity as you go. Apply a chant like cadence. If you can do so authentically, use a throat tremble when you say knowledge. Continue with the same sense of wonder for the second sentence. Highlight depth, riches, wisdom, knowledge, God, inscrutable and unsearchable. Insert micropauses after depth, riches, wisdom, and knowledge to emphasize the chant like cadence of that first sentence. Insert a small pause after judgments. Next we have three questions contained in two sentences. For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Or who has given the Lord anything that they may be repaid? These are quotes from the Old Testament. Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord or instructed him as his counselor? See Isaiah forty thirteen. The second quote seems to be from an old Greek version of Job forty one three, which doesn't quite say the same thing as Paul does here. Use eye contact and a sense of wonder for the first sentence. Make sure you're not sarcastic for the second question contained in the first sentence. Use an incredulous tone of voice and penetrating demeanor for the third question. Stress the first who, mind, the first Lord, the second who, counselor, the third who, anything, and repaid. Insert a small pause after the first Lord and a micro pause after anything. Use full pauses with eye contact as if waiting for an answer after counselor and repaid. We close with for from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. The final word is worship. Note the similar structure here that mirrors the doxology, the prayer of worship preceding our mass's great amen. Through him and with him and in him, all glory and honor is yours forever and ever. Again, use a chance like cadence for this sentence. Make full eye contact and a broad smile when you say amen. Don't be surprised if you hear an amen or two or three back. Emphasize from, through, for, all, the last hymn, glory, forever, and amen. Insert micro pauses after the first hymn, the second hymn, the fourth hymn, and glory, and a longer pause after the third hymn, before R. 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 bobtelector.org and we'll see you at the Ambo. By the way, if you like what you hear and are so inclined, please give us five stars on Apple Podcasts and forward this podcast to your fellow lectors, your pastor, and your liturgy director. Thanks so much.