3rd Sunday of the Year (C)

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

"This scripture passage is fulfilled". What did Jesus mean? The passage from Isaiah speaks about 'liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and the release of prisoners'. When the Lord said that, He was referring to His very Person and role as Savior. God sent Him to proclaim freedom to all those captive to sin. But what does being captive to sin mean? If we look forward to how this was interpreted by the teachers of the faith, 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 as: pride, ambition, anger, hatred, gluttony, impurity, greed and sadness. All these enslave and imprison, and bring darkness to the heart. It was to free us from these that Jesus said, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

What Jesus proclaimed was the Good News, not only in word, but in His very person and actions. And that Good News is meant for all. This is opposite to the spirit of the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus calls everyone, especially all souls who are infirm at one time or another. He offers freedom from darkness and mediocrity. He calls all to seek the Kingdom and its everlasting Light. It is the healing power of His Light that restores the light of God's image and likeness in all. Not all accept the message; but God does not give up. His call continues through the Church, in the time of St. Gregory, and up to now in the Sacraments. Those who see, seek and receive the light in the Sacraments, find in Jesus everything they have ever wanted or hoped for. Those who respond to the call, respond in gratitude and are encouraged by God's Spirit to do their part to build the "city of God" wherever they work or live.