The reading may teach doctrine, repentance, church life, holiness, humility, endurance, or the meaning of salvation in Christ. In the Coptic order, it is heard before the Catholic Epistle, the Praxis, the Synaxarium, the Psalm, and the Gospel.
Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Why St. Paul is read in the Liturgy
The Eucharistic assembly is formed by teaching before it approaches Communion. Acts describes the first believers continuing in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. The Pauline reading keeps that apostolic pattern before the Church: doctrine, prayer, and Communion belong together.
St. Paul’s letters also teach how the Gospel becomes life in the Church. They speak about the Body of Christ, the Cross, repentance, spiritual struggle, humility, marriage, service, suffering, and the hope of the Resurrection. The reading is therefore not a detached Bible lesson. It is apostolic instruction addressed to the people who are about to confess the Creed and approach the altar.
How to listen
Hear the Pauline Epistle as instruction for the whole Church. It may correct sin, strengthen faith, explain salvation, or call the faithful to love and endurance. The Liturgy reads Scripture so that the people can repent, believe, and receive Communion with understanding.
The place of the reading also matters. Before the Eucharistic prayer, the Church submits herself to the apostolic word. St. Paul is read because the same apostolic faith that teaches the Church also prepares the faithful to receive Christ.