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Question Title Posted By Question Date
NRSV Lectionary again Clement Saturday, June 5, 2010

Question:

Thanks for the clarification in the previous post. I have few more question. I wonder why the relevant authorities choosed the NRSV for the lectionary and decided to do the necessary modifications like what have been done to the NAB many times. Instead of using a bible tranlation that has to be modified, why can't they just use a solid and updated version like the RSV-CE 2nd Edition?

Also, for the lectionary outside US which uses The Jerusalem Bible, it is a great translation with no inclusive language. To change the lectionary to NRSV, which has to be modified seem to be counter-productive. Further, don't you think that it will cause further confusion as the NRSV lectionary will be different from the NRSV avaiable in the market? I feel rather dissapointed as I prefer to read and study my bible which ha the same contents a the lectionary.
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Clement,

I can't really speak for the bishops and say why they chose to go with a NRSV based lectionary, but from reading the statements the idea I got was that they felt it would have simpler language to understand while being proclaimed aloud.  The idea being that it would encourage the people to pay closer attention to the Word.

As for your question about the confusion caused by the Lectionary text differing from the bible texts..  I'm just not sure that that would be such a problem.  I use many bible translations in my studies at home, but I rarely, make that never, compare translations while I am actually listening to the readings at Mass.  I simply follow along with my missal, placing the greatest emphasis on what is being said rather than in what different ways it could have been said.

If the NRSV based Lectionary were to be used in my parish, and if while reading it at Mass something strange appeared in the text, I would use that as an opportunity to study the scriptures in greater detail once I got home with all the different translations in front of me.

Hope this helps,

Mr. Slavek
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