LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Why is ‘Yahweh’ now referred to as ‘Lord’?

Posted

TO THE EDITOR:

Is anyone concerned about the replacement of “Yahweh” by “Lord” in the current Lectionary? That same change has been made in hymns sung at liturgical ceremonies. I understand that Jewish tradition considers Yahweh too sacred a word to be verbalized, but that has always been the case, so why this recent change?
I must confess that this alteration has made many beautiful Old Testament readings less meaningful and impactful for me, especially those of Isaiah in Advent and Lent. But more importantly, shouldn’t we be concerned that our young people in the pews may seldom (maybe never?) hear that intriguing name for our God, and so they will never learn of its historical importance in the development of Judaism, and its relationship to Christianity as well?

James T. Sedlock, East Greenwich