3rd Sunday of the Year (C)

First reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Gospel reading: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

"To announce a year of favor from the Lord."

The gospel for January 24, the 3rd Sunday of the Year, comes from
two sections of Luke's gospel: one from chapter 1, and the other
verses from chapter 4. The first section of the gospel tells how
the evangelist Luke compiled his gospel narrative - receiving the
stories and events on the life of Jesus from original eyewitnesses
and ministers of the Word. Then, the second section of the
gospel (verses from Luke 4), shows us Jesus in the beginning of
His public ministry. Jesus is presented as entering a synagogue
in Nazareth, and after being given the scroll of the prophet
Isaiah, begins to read out to the people inside the synagogue.
Jesus ended the reading from the prophet Isaiah with the words:
"To announce a year of favor from the Lord". As everyone in the
synagogue had their eyes fixed on Him, Jesus then said: "Today
this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

According to bible scholar Robert J. Karris, in his book,
"Invitation to Luke", when Jesus read the passage from the scroll
of the prophet Isaiah, it is like the inaugural speech of a US
President. We know that a US President defines in his inaugural
speech what he plans to accomplish during his term. Jesus,
likewise, makes His "speech" by preaching in His hometown
synagogue that God's promises in Isaiah are being fulfilled in
His ministry. Jesus promises to accomplish the year of favor from
the Lord: "bring good tidings to the poor, the captives, the
blind, and the downtrodden".

This story from the gospel of Luke presents to us a Jesus, who is
a Prophet anointed by the Spirit of the Lord. By our baptism in
the Church, we also share in the prophetic mission of Jesus. As
a family, and as Catholics, we are to bring Christ's prophetic
vision to all, especially the poor, the prisoners, the blind, and
the downtrodden. As we are regularly nourished by God's Word and
Sacrament every Sunday, we are called to renew our baptismal
commitment to follow Jesus and His prophetic mission. We may not
have the opportunity to announce by "word" the favor God gives
to the less fortunate, but we can follow Jesus through everyday
deeds of charity and justice - making Christ's vision fulfilled
more and more each day. Acts of kindness to the family's postmen,
the garbage collectors, newspaper delivery boys, and the vendors
we encounter everyday is like "one little candle" lit to help
dispel the darkness of our times.

2nd Sunday of the Year (C)

First reading: Isaiah 62:1-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Gospel reading: John 2:1-11

"Do whatever He tells you."

The gospel for the Sunday Eucharist on January 17 is also the
second luminous mystery in the rosary: the miracle of the water
turned to wine at the wedding at Cana. The setting for Jesus'
first "sign" is a wedding. His mother Mary was there. He was also
present together with His disciples. At a certain point during
the wedding, Mary perceived through her sensitivity that the wine
ran out. She went to her Son with the problem. Jesus replied:
"Woman, how does this concern of yours involve me? My hour has
not yet come." And then Mary instructed those waiting on table
and said, "Do whatever He tells you." Then Jesus ordered the six
stone water jars to be filled with water to the brim. When they
drew some out of the jars and took it to the waiter in charge,
it miraculously turned out to be a choice wine - the finest of
the wedding ceremony.

St. Louis-Marie de Montfort in his treatise on the True Devotion
to Mary said that "at the wedding of Cana, Jesus changed water
into wine at Mary's humble prayer". Though it is not stated in
the gospel account of the wedding at Cana, because of what we
know of Mary from other events in the gospels as a woman who has
great faith and confidence in God, this miracle and sign at Cana
would also involve her as a woman who takes care of others as if
they were God's and her own children also. And by her humility,
she knew where the power of God truly comes from - from her Son
Jesus. Montfort also continues to state in his book that as
"Jesus began His miracles through Mary, He will continue them
through her until the end of time" (True Devotion #19).

Not all Christians have a devotion to Mary as many Catholics do.
They may not be aware that devotion to Mary is also rooted in
the gospels. And this gospel account of the wedding at Cana is
one among many that presents clearly the important role Mary
plays in the redeeming work of her Son Jesus. Perhaps we can
take this opportunity to reflect and meditate more how this
Christian mystery can help us grow in faith. How strong is my
conviction that devotion to Mary can lead me well to Christ?
Which area of my spiritual life should I give more attention to,
so that I may learn to honor the Mother of God as one of the
anchors of Christian spirituality - one that will help me and
members of my family during times of serious problems, crises,
and instability.

The Lord's Baptism (C)

First reading: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104
Second reading: Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
Gospel reading: Luke 3:15-16,21-22

"He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire."

For the feast of the Lord's Baptism, we have the story presented
from the gospel of Luke. The gospel passage is composed only in
a few verses, but the description of the baptismal account of
Jesus, projects a bright picture of John the Baptist, the people,
and the presence of the Holy Trinity. When John started his
ministry to baptize the people of Israel, the people thought he
was the Christ. John however told them the truth: he is not even
fit to loosen the sandal strap of the Messiah. So when Jesus
Himself went to John to be baptized by him, even though He was
filled with God's glory and divinity, He still underwent John's
baptism as an act of humility. When He was baptized, "the skies
opened", the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove,
and the Father spoke from heaven: "You are My Beloved Son. On You
My favor rests."

In his sermon for the feast of the Lord's Baptism, St. Gregory
Nazianzen explains how we share in that baptism of our Lord. He
says that as Jesus rose from the waters of the Jordan river, where
He was baptized by His cousin John, "we and the whole world rise
with Christ". Christ, our Redeemer, entered our human history
so that by His baptism from John, and our baptism "in the Holy
Spirit and in fire", we may be cleansed entirely of all stain of
original sin. St. Gregory Nazianzen continues to add that God
wants us to "become a living force for all" - "radiant lights
shining as we stand beside Christ, the great Light".

For many of us who were baptized as infants, we tend to forget
the importance of our baptism, and how Christ becomes the center
of our life through the sacrament. But this feast of the Lord's
Baptism can now remind us to see Christ not only as central to
our Christian life, but also how He and ourselves are related
to the Trinity. By our sharing in the baptism of our Lord, we
now share in the life of the Trinity. And by our baptism with
Christ, we are called to a continuous cleansing and purification
of our heart from sin throughout our whole Christian life. We can
be reminded of this responsibility every time we celebrate the
Eucharist. The gift of the Eucharist reminds us that God became
man to redeem us from our sinfulness. Christ was faithful until
the end. As a Christian, we can evaluate how we are faithful also
to our baptism, and how we have failed in our responsibility for
the gift of life Christ gives us in baptism. If ever we have been
unfaithful to the Lord, what can I do to regain that faithfulness
God expects of me?