4th Sunday of the Year (C)

First reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31--13:13
Gospel reading: Luke 4:21-30

"No prophet gains acceptance in his native place."

January 31 is the 4th Sunday of the Year (C). The gospel passage
continues from what was read last Sunday. From Luke chapter 4
verses 21-30, we will discover the various reactions of the people
to the discourse of Jesus in His hometown synagogue: "some spoke
favorably of Him", "some marveled at His appealing discourse",
"others asked, 'is not this Joseph's son?'" And so when Jesus
explained to them that 'no prophet gains acceptance in his native
place', many were filled with indignation. They rose up, expelled
Him from the town, led Him to the brow of the hill, and intended
to hurl Him over the edge. Jesus however went straight through
their midst and walked away.

There is a section in the Bible allotted to the Books of the
Prophets. The prophets Elijah and Elisha, whom Jesus also refers
to in His discourse at the synagogue, are one of the early
prophets in this section of the Bible. Prophets, according to
the meaning intended by the Scripture, are called by God to be
His spokesmen. If we go back to the Bible and read the lives and
mission of these prophets, including Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos (to
name a few), we will discover that their prophetic vocation was
filled with much indignation or opposition from the people. An
example of this was what the people did to the prophet Jeremiah
- they put him in a dry well filled with mud, intending to starve
him to death (Jeremiah 38:1-13). And the last of Israel's
prophets after Jeremiah and others, and before Jesus, was St.
John the Baptist. We know what happened to him.

Jesus is also a prophet in this tradition of Israel's prophets.
He is King, Priest and Prophet. By our baptism in Jesus, we share
in His kingly, priestly, and prophetic functions (as a community
of disciples - a kingly, priestly, and prophetic people of God).
The task of Jesus as Prophet was to announce the Good News and to
denounce what was evil in His time. That was a very dangerous
task. We know that it eventually led to His passion, death and
resurrection. As we are now called to meditate more on the gospel
for this Sunday, let us examine our hearts and see where it
stands. Do we stand with those people who marvel at the discourse
of Jesus and speak favorably of Him? Or do we take a stronger
stance and stand by Jesus and His prophetic vision - "staying"
with Him, even if others "want to hurl Him over the edge?"

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.