Fr O’Loughlin writes:
‘Over the years I have noticed that the same questions come up repeatedly from groups of readers, and that there is interest around two central themes: (1) why do we bother with some or all of the readings? and (2) why do readings come up when they do? I hope those questions and, in particular, those two themes are addressed in this book. I have also found that simply explaining how the lectionary is structured (such items as the three-year cycle) gave the readers a sense of having a map that allowed them to know where their particular task or the reading of a certain text fitted into larger landscape of the liturgy. So, providing a map of the Liturgy of the Word is this book’s aim.

Once we have a sense of the overall structure and direction of the Liturgy of the Word, then we are in a better position to appreciate its deeper spiritual significance for us as individuals and as members of the church.’