What is the difference between the liturgy of the word and the liturgy of the Eucharist?

Answer 1

The Liturgy of the Word consists of the readings (One Old Testament reading, one reading from one of the letters [on Sundays and solemn feast days], and one from the Gospel). These are often followed by the Homily (An exhortation or explanation from the priest).

The Liturgy of the Eucharist consists mainly of the consecration and Eucharistic Prayers. Followed by Communion.

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Catholic AnswerThe Liturgy of the Word, the first half of the Mass (Eucharist) is when Our Blessed Lord is instructing you through proclamations of His Word in the Scriptures, and in the explanation of it through His priest giving the homily. The Second part of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Eucharist when Our Blessed Lord comes in His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, to give you the graces you need to go out and lead a Christian life. Because this is so holy, it is God, Himself: this is the reason that we can never receive Holy Communion in a state of sin, and must always go to confession before receiving Our Blessed Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist.

from

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

1324 The Eucharist is the "source and summit of the Christian life." (Lumen Gentium 11) "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch." (Presbyterorum ordinis 5)

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1364 In the New Testament, the memorial takes on a new meaning. When the Church celebrates the Eucharist, she commemorates Christ's Passover, and it is made present: the sacrifice Christ offered once for all on the cross remains every present. (Cf. Heb 7:25-27) As often as the sacrifice of the Cross by which 'Christ our Pasch has been sacrifice' is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried out. (Lumen Gentium 3; cf. 1 Cor 5:7)

Answer 2

All Mass is Liturgy, but not all Liturgy is Mass.

Liturgy is any public official expression of the Church's prayer, life, and worship. "Liturgies" can include the recitation of the Divine Office in common, A Liturgy of the Word service, etc. The Mass is the highest and most solemn "Liturgy" of the Church for the Mass involves not only verbal praise of God but SACRIFICE. In the Mass, an exchange of persons takes place: we receive the life of Christ, and Christ receives our life.

Therefore all public and official expressions of the Church's prayer are Liturgies, but since not all of them involve the offering of SACRIFICE, all Mass is Liturgy, but not all Liturgy is Mass.