If we get too familiar with a reading where we feel we've "got it" and no longer need to study it, we risk proclaiming from the top of our heads instead of the depth of our hearts, and lose our listeners.

One of the most striking examples of the ultimate lector is from the Book of Nehemiah, describing how the prophet Ezra's deep knowledge and dedication to the Torah resulted in a delivery so powerful that he captured the full attention of the people,

Search “Public Scripture Reading” online, and you’ll find concerns about the lack of attention to it in non-Catholic services. But one way for non-Catholic preachers to better appreciate the value of public scripture reading their services is to visit a Catholic Mass.