Perhaps the best way to understand the readings at Mass and our response to them is offered by Blessed John Paul II in his Instruction Dies Domini. He encourages “those who take part in the Eucharist—priest, ministers and faithful... to prepare the Sunday liturgy, reflecting beforehand upon the word of God which will be proclaimed.” ...In this way we will till the soil, preparing our souls to receive the seeds to be planted by the Word of God so that seed may bear fruit.

“Hearing the Word of God,” a document from the USCCB concerning the reception of the Word of God at Mass:

In this lesson you are going to do exactly what Pope St. John Paul II asked of us and reflect on the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday Mass.