4th 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)

4th Sunday of the Year (C), February 3, 2013

Liturgical readings
Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Psalm 71
1 Corinthians 12:31 - 13:13
Luke 4:21-30

"He went straight through their midst and walked away."

The misunderstanding between Jesus and His own people begins. After reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, the people begin to question the claim of Jesus. They asked: "Is this not Joseph's son?" For the Lord spoke in a very prophetic manner - causing indignation in the hearts of His hearers. All the prophets in the tradition of the Jewish people were known to "announce" and "denounce" in God's holy name. Jesus followed this same prophetic tradition. But in doing such, He stirred an uprising among His kinsfolk. They expelled Him from the town and intended to hurl Him over the edge of a hill. But Jesus "went straight ahead through their midst and walked away." The Lord left in peace. (And went to Capernaum to continue His mission).


Jesus is our Priest, Prophet and King. It is His mission as Prophet that shines bright through this passage. Israel's prophets have a very dangerous vocation. Many of them have been killed because they straightfowardly announced God's will in the Commandments; and they denounced the people's infidelity and disobedience to the Commandments. Before the Lord took upon Himself the responsibility of this prophetic tradition, it was His precursor, John the Baptist, who prepared the way, through a baptism of repentance. John called the people to reconcile themselves to God. The Lord's mission follows this same prophetic call. When Jesus began His public ministry, He continued preaching for the forgiveness of sins by calling out: "Repent and believe in the Gospel".


Not all of us is called to be a priest, a prophet or a king. But by our baptismal consecration, we share in "the priesthood of Christ, in His prophetic and royal mission" - to build His Kingdom (first in our hearts, and then in the hearts of others). We may not also have the office of preaching the Word, but by letting the Word of God take root in our hearts, we are healed and purified. Letting God's Word and the Sacraments be food for our souls, we can bring God's presence in the very ordinary settings of our lives. St. Philip Neri (1515-1595 A.D.) says that once we receive the Lord in communion, we become "living tabernacles". That is why it has been an old pious tradition and practice in the Church to spend some moments for thanksgiving prayer, and to refrain from ingesting food (immediately) after the Mass.

Points for reflection and prayer:
The following quotes from this Sunday's readings can help deepen our reflection and prayer:
"For it is I this day who have made you a fortified city" (Jeremiah 1)
"Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety" (Psalm 71)
"There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure" (1 Corinthians 12)

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." 

2nd Sunday of the Year (C)