Q: Tonight, after mass, a man came to me with some questions on why we have 2 forms of today’s gospel reading. He asks, why do we have 2 forms of gospel reading? what is the meaning of that? Is there any particular rule for that?
==
A: Here’s paragraph 80 from the Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass: “A pastoral criterion must also guide the choice between the longer and shorter forms of the same text. The main consideration must be the capacity of the hearers to listen profitably either to the longer or to the shorter reading; or to listen to a more complete text that will be explained through the homily.”