To proclaim God’s word with greater impact in our rampant secular culture, we need to elevate ourselves beyond fundamental 101 lector training. We must become the clay in order for God to mold our inner qualities so that his word can pass through us and bear greater fruit.

These inner qualities are what we must embody to engage our listeners in the Mass readings and gain their belief in our credibility as a minister of the word. 

As we approach the ambo and look out over our listeners, we should always ask ourselves, “What am I'm telling them about myself before I even say a word? What fruits of the Holy Spirit are shining through in me? How’s my body language, my demeanor, my love, my peace?”

Our answers will determine their expectations, high or low, of the quality of delivery they’re about to get from us.

We can never prepare enough to equip ourselves from the “inside-out” before releasing God’s word to our listeners. We must meditate on it, feel it, be affected by it, be gladdened, afflicted and perhaps even saddened by it.

We need to be weeded, pruned and watered to cleanse ourselves of any inner impurities that might diminish our delivery. And when we do this well, God’s word can shine, enter our listeners' hearts and comfort them for the moment based on their needs and circumstances they carry with them into Mass.

So the next time you’re about to approach the ambo, consider silently saying this brief prayer:

 Lord, cleanse my mind from any thoughts outside of your word which I'm about to proclaim. Lift the thorns from my heart so I may be a worthy vessel for your voice to reach the hearts of your listeners with its love and healing power.