3rd Sunday of the Year (C)

Inspire in Us the Practice of Good (2011-2013):

Sunday Reflections for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

3rd Sunday of the Year (C), January 27, 2013

Liturgical readings

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

Psalm 19

1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

"He entered the synagogue on the sabbath and stood up to do the reading."

The Lord begins His public ministry. He enters the synagogue at Nazareth, unrolls the scroll and reads a passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The gospel story intensely builds up as He reads the passage Isaiah ascribes to the mission of the promised Messiah. When Jesus had finished reading, He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant, and sat down. Those in the synagogue knew His family background, for that synagogue was in Nazareth where He had been reared. There could have been an emphatic silence that pervaded the whole synagogue - a silence wherein the presence of God was deeply felt. When all those present had their eyes on the Jesus, He said: "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

"This scripture passage is fulfilled." The passage from Isaiah speaks about 'liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and the release of prisoners'. The Lord fulfills this passage in His very Person and role as Savior. God sent Him to proclaim freedom to all those captive to vice and sin. St. Gregory (who lived 500 years after Christ), wrote about eight vices (in thought and in spirit) that draw souls away from God. He lists them down: pride, ambition, anger, hatred, gluttony, impurity, greed and sadness (due to inordinate attachments). All these enslave and imprison, and brings darkness to the heart. Jesus was sent to proclaim freedom from all these, and more besides. He makes people whole in body and spirit, and leads them towards paths of virtue and holiness (what is opposite of the eight vices mentioned above).

Opposite to the spirit of the scribes and the Pharisees, Jesus' spirit was inclusive. He calls everyone, most especially those whose souls are infirm. He offers freedom from darkness and mediocrity. He calls all to seek the Kingdom and its everlasting Light. It is His Light that will restore the light of God's image and likeness in all souls. Though not all respond, God does not give up. His call still continues through the Church and her channels of grace, the Sacraments. Those who receive the light to see the nobility of such a call, find in Jesus everything they have ever wanted or hoped for. For those who respond to the call, God's blessings pour down like the dewfall. Peace, joy, and God's mercy reign in their hearts and lead them to do their part to build the "city of God".

Points for reflection and prayer: 

The prayer of the Psalmist in Psalm 19 brings much light: "Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."