By Francis Gonsalves, SJ-
Third Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C
Readings: Neh 8:2-6,8-10; 1 Cor 12:12-30; Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18)
Three Scriptural Signposts:
1. The book of Nehemiah [first reading] mainly concerns the work of Nehemiah, the Persian appointed Governor of Judea who was responsible for rebuilding Jerusalem some 70-80 years after the Israelites return from the Exile. The Israelites are heartbroken and repentant; for they have been unfaithful to God’s covenant, and consequently have lost their identity, community-cohesion, king and temple. With repentant hearts and minds resolved for renewal and restoration, they look to the only anchor and rock upon which they can rebuild their lives and society: God’s word! Deep in their hearts, they feel called to re-read God’s word and reiterate their “Amen! Yes!” to God.
The scene can be located around the year 445 BC. The people “gathered together into the square …. and told Ezra, the scribe [theologians of that time] to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly” (vv.1-2). See Exodus 24:3-8 for the first ratification of the Law with Moses as the leader. The narrative in today’s first reading somewhat resembles that original episode when the Israelites swore to be faithful to God’s Law at the Exodus.
2. It is important to note some interesting details of the ‘public reading’ of the Law:
(a) It is the ordinary people who feel the need of reading God’s Law so as to listen to, and obey, God’s Word.
(b) All the mature men and women “who could understand” were assembled “from early morning until midday” showing their eagerness.
(c) “The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law”.
(d) The platform for the reading also seems to have been made by the people.
(e) All the leaders, the scribes, the priests and the Levites take pains to interpret, explain and teach God’s words to the people—as a result “the people understood the meaning.”
(f) “The people wept when they heard the words of the law” since they realized that they had sinned against God and had not been faithful to God’s Law.
(g) Nonetheless, Governor Nehemiah, Ezra the priest-scribe and the Levites tell the people: “Do not mourn or weep …. Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions [of food] to those for whom nothing is prepared.”
(h) “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (v.10) reminds us that God’s word is always Good News bringing joy—even if such joy be accompanied by tears of repentance.
Finally, note that in the Old Testament, there is no dichotomy between sacred and secular. Hence, spiritual and religious reforms go hand-in-hand with political, social, and economic reconstruction.
3. Similar to the scene in the first reading
In today’s gospel we have Jesus publicly reading out from the Book of Isaiah (chapter 61). The scene is the synagogue in his hometown, Nazareth. Two important points in the gospel passage are: first, Jesus “filled with the power of the Holy Spirit” returns to Galilee – a poor, small, nondescript hamlet – and proclaims: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good new to the poor …” In the next few weeks we will be reading and reflecting upon passages from the Gospel according to St Luke, with two characteristics highlighted in today’s reading:
(i) It is a gospel of the Holy Spirit; and,
(ii) specifically addressed to the poor. At the very outset of his public ministry, then, Jesus purposefully proclaims that he will be the servant of the poor. This ‘poor’ will not just be the economically poor, but also the morally, socially, religious poor – as well as the sick, blind, prisoners, and so on.
Possible Link in the 2nd Reading:
The image of a ‘Body’ in the 2nd reading is a powerful ‘organic’ image of oneness, wholeness, health, animation and cooperation. Paul tells his community at Corinth: “You together are Christ’s body”. Thus, just as any human body is made up of many parts, so are you ‘Body of Christ’, Church, made up of many parts. Moreover, just as a human body is animated by a spirit or soul, Christ’s Body, the Church, is animated by the One Holy Spirit that “was given to us all to drink” (v.13). We must, get ‘drunk’, so to say, with God’s Spirit which Scripture describes as “living water” that will enliven us and satisfy all our thirsts.
Three Texts from Catholic Tradition:
1. Saint Ireneus (130-202 AD) describes Jesus and the Holy Spirit as: “Two Hands of God”.
2. Dei Verbum no. 21 of Vatican Council II states: “The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body.” God’s word is food that nourishes!
3. Pope Francis & ‘Poor Church of/for the Poor’: “The poor are at the centre of the Gospel”
Three Current Concerns:
1. Concern for the Poor: Jesus came to bring “good news to the poor”. How concerned am I/are We about the poor? Dalits, Adivasis, Migrants, Prisoners, Abused Women and Children? If we are not a ‘poor church’ and not also ‘for the poor’ we are no church at all.
2. Concern for the Word of God: While Protestants, Pentecostals and Evangelicals are familiar with God’s word in Scripture, what about us, Catholics? Am I/Are We truly ‘nourished’ by God’s Word in Scripture? Do we prepare and preach good homilies?
3. Concern for ‘Being Body of Christ’: We have just concluded the week of prayer for Christian unity. Today’s readings challenge us, Christians, to become aware of being the ‘One Body of Christ’ animated with the ‘One Breath of the Spirit’. Each of us without exception has a role to play in keeping this Body of Christ alive and active, today.
In Lighter Vein:
A group of youth got quite drunk at a birthday party and collapsed in a heap of entangled limbs on the way home. Unable to decipher which limbs belonged to whom in the group, one of the drunken youth shouted out to a passerby, “Can you help us to find out which limbs belong to whom?” Amused, the passerby replied, “Sure!” Taking out a pin, he began pricking hands and legs. There were cries of “Ouch! Ouch!” as each drunkard disentangled himself from the heap and dragged himself home.
Reflection:
Millions of poor Indians ceaselessly cry out: “Ouch!” crushed by innumerable forms of poverty, captivities and exploitation. Are we ready to serve these as One Body, mindful that One Breath of the Holy Spirit animates us all? Is my/our life and message ‘Good News’ for all? So, with our psalmist, let us pray: “Your words are spirit, Lord; they give life.”
Fr. Francis Gonsalves is a Gujarat Jesuit, former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi, and currently Dean of Theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies.