Someone asked me recently why the Readers at Sunday Mass are not allowed to sit in the sanctuary any more. I was happy the person noticed but I realized that the comments we put in the bulletin explaining the change had not gotten to everyone so here’s another way to look at why Lectors now sit in the pews rather than in the sanctuary when they are not reading.
The main reason for the change is to emphasize the fact that reading scripture is a ministry of the laity as well as the clergy. As the Lectors come up from the assembly to read the scriptures it is a sign that the ministry is not relegated only to ordained ministers. The second reason is that many Lectors appreciate sitting with family or friends during the Mass.
Jesus IS the Word of God. Christ is present in the Word proclaimed at Mass. Vatican II emphasized the meaning of "real presence" to include the real presence of Christ in the proclaimed Word and the assembly during liturgy. For me it is a wonderful sign that we collaborate together, laity and clergy, in proclaiming the real presence of God.