By Thamajoy Reang csc –
Readings: Neh 8:1 – 4; 1 Cor 12: 12 – 14, 27; Lk 1: 1– 4; 4: 14– 21
“God has ordained that our preaching become deeper and more winsome as we are broken, humbled, and made low and desperately dependent on grace by the trials of our lives.” – John Macarthur
The first reading speaks to me that I must listen to the word of God and be happy and joyful in listening to it instead of grieving, for God assures me that the joy of his strength is with me. The second reading speaks to me that all who are born of Christ are one in spirit.
The Gospel reading tells me that the spirit of the Lord is always with me, and he will guide the steps I take and invites me to preach the gospel to the poor and needy.
After having reflected over the readings, a question came into my mind; who are the poor and needy in the context of my community?
The poor and the needy in my context are the members of my community who may be facing spiritual decline due to a multitude of reasons. We live in a community where we find and meet people belonging to different cultures, languages and so on. No matter who we are, all of us are born of Christ and are one in the spirit of the Lord as reminded by St. Paul. It is a reminder for me that I need to care for my community members wherever I may be, because by caring for them, the Lord is glorified. So, all the readings of today call me to stand for the gospel and preach to the people who are in need of God’s word in their lives.