Reading at Mass

I love to read out loud, and I especially love to read at mass. A lot of people I've met have a fear of speaking in front of crowds, but it never bothered me quite as much. And it's nice to be complimented on something you really like to do that also lets you share God with other people.

But it's kind of sad too... :( As I've become more orthodox in my beliefs I am beginning to realize that, yes, it's ok that I'm reading, but...ideally...I never should have to. (At least not in the church mass proper). Because ideally...men serve their priestly vocation by leading the mass and women serve in many other vitally important ways, during and outside church... I know that it's not out of a deficiency on my part that I shouldn't actually in an ideal world be a reader at mass, but it is kind of sad to me because I love to do it.

I keep trying to think...the sacrifice of something that small, and really (if I'm honest with myself) that vain, is infinitely worth it when we see how it all actually does fit together to help us understand and give greater glory to God. Similiarly, maybe this can be applied on a larger scale with the changes in society that, as orthodox Catholics we should endeavour to make, that initially seem unfair, or insignificant, or even not our place to say anything about at all.

I think maybe it's hard to see why to take away or change certain things - the removal of which would anger not only radical feminists but also many women who have just happened to have grown up in a world with so many opportunities and certain expectations. It's hard to realize that just because we can do something doesn't mean that we should...and that the cumulative effect of all the little things in our 'equal', liberal, and relativistic society is what can be the most despirate and most despairing.