Gospel Reflection: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak till midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll
so that all the people might see it
— for he was standing higher up than any of the people —;
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.

Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
"Amen, amen!"
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
"Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep"—
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!"

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (cf John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Gospel

Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events
that have been fulfilled among us,
just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning
and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
I too have decided,
after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings
you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

Reflection

Today’s readings remind us that God’s law and instruction are gifts that deserve our joyful gratitude and rapt attention. Further, they underlinehow Jesus is the fullness of that teaching, and that all good news culminates in Christ.

The first reading describes Ezra, the priest-scribe, teaching God’s law. The sacred author takes care to describe every aspect of the scene: the people listening “attentively,” Ezra standing on a wooden platform and unfurling the scroll, the people lying prostrate. Ezra taught “so all could understand.” These details of the story convey how God’s people were hanging on every word, and that God, through his prophets, wanted the people to comprehend them.

We see a similar emphasis on clarity and attention in the reading from Luke. Today’s Gospel begins with Luke’s prologue, where he sets out to present the story of Christ clearly so that his reader can understand “with certainty.” Then, we move to the episode of Jesus’ synagogue reading in Nazareth. Luke gives us slow, physical details: Jesus stands up, unrolls the scroll, reads it, sits back down, and “…the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at Him.” We can imagine everyone holding their breath, nary a pin dropping, before Jesus announces the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy and pandemonium breaks out.

Why does the Church draw our attention to these particular readings today? Our psalm offers an answer: “Your words, Lord, are spirit and life.” The responsorial psalm lauds the word of God for its perfection, trustworthiness, and joyfulness. Every word that issues forth from the mouth of God should have us on the edge of our seats. His word is life!

God wants us to know and understand His message. Jesus states that He is the fulfillment of the words that we strain our ears to hear. He proclaims gladness, freedom, and sight.

The law, which had the Israelites weeping then rejoicing, is such a gift because it facilitates the people’s union with God. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus is mankind’s ultimate unity with God: divinity and humanity in one Person who is here to save us from the sin that divides.

Let us pray for the grace to listen to God’s word with breathless attention, and to recognize Jesus as the Good News we all long for.

Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

+ Bishop Schlert



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