45 Lectionary

The Lectionary contains all the readings from the Bible that are used at Mass. It is organised so that for each day there is a first reading (usually Old  Testament), Psalm, second reading (on Sundays and Feasts days only – New Testament) and Gospel reading.  
The Sunday readings are organised into a 3-year cycle, called A, B, C and each yearly cycle begins on the first Sunday of Advent.

Year A: Gospel of Matthew 
(last time November 2010 through 2011, next starts November 2013)

Year B: Gospel of Mark 
(last time December 2011 through  2012, next starts November 2014)

Year C: Gospel of Luke 
(November 2012 through November 2013)

The Gospel of John is read throughout Easter, and is used for other liturgical seasons including Advent, Christmas, and Lent where appropriate. The Liturgy of the Word is the part of the Mass where we listen to readings from the Lectionary.  We believe that we are listening to God's Word and that God speaks to us through the readings. The priest's homily, which is given after the Gospel has been proclaimed, helps us to understand the readings and what they mean for us today.

Image of the four evangelists -
Can you see the symbolic animal?

CCC 104 In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, "but as what it really is, the word of God". "In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them."