Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings for Third Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading I: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak till midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll
so that all the people might see it
— for he was standing higher up than any of the people —;
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
“Amen, amen!”
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
“Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep”—
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”
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Commentary on Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

We delve into the Book of the Prophet Nehemiah and since this is a book we do not hear much from perhaps a little explanation is useful, especially since today Nehemiah’s reading deals with Ezra, who’s Book precedes Nehemiah in the current canon of the Bible.

Both prophets were active at the time of the Restoration. That is the time following the Babylonian exile during which the Jewish people were returned to their historical geography and the nation of Israel was reestablished.

In the reading today, we hear Ezra, who of the two was more responsible for reintroducing the Law as the constitution of the reformed state, proclaiming the Law. Now comes Nehemiah, the Administrator telling the people who were overcome with emotion at hearing God’s word once more, explaining that it is a time for rejoicing because they are once more united under God’s Law.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
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Commentary on Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15

Psalm 19 is a hymn of praise. In this passage we give praise to God’s gift of the Law which guides us in our daily lives. The hymn also extols the virtue of obedience and steadfastness to the Law and its precepts. It captures the joy of the people we hear in the reading from Nehemiah.

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Reading II
First Option: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Now the body is not a single part, but many.
If a foot should say,
“Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body, “
it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
Or if an ear should say,
“Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body, “

it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?
If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
But as it is, God placed the parts,
each one of them, in the body as he intended.
If they were all one part, where would the body be?
But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you, “
nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.”
Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker
are all the more necessary,
and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable
we surround with greater honor,
and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety,
whereas our more presentable parts do not need this.
But God has so constructed the body
as to give greater honor to a part that is without it,
so that there may be no division in the body,
but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it;
if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the church
to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
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Commentary on 1 Cor 12:12-30

In this selection we are given the great Pauline analogy of the Body as Church. He goes first into detail enumerating the parts of the body and distinguishing their functions. He then proposes that the body needs the diversity of parts and could not function effectively without all of them.

St. Paul then goes through the same process with functions within the Church, again enumerating the functions; “first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.” His message is clear, the Church needs all of these functions and even though some get more attention, all are prized.

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OR
Shorter Form
1 Cor 12:12-14, 27

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Now the body is not a single part, but many.
You are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.
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Commentary on 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27

This passage is a short summary of St. Paul’s teaching on unity of purpose of the members in the Church. He points out that in baptism we are all adopted into the same family becoming the Body of Christ. While each has a separate purpose and ability, all are one in Christ.

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Gospel : Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events
that have been fulfilled among us,
just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning
and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
I too have decided,
after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings
you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
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Commentary on Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

The Gospel selection today is actually two different passages from Luke’s Gospel. In this passage we start with the introduction to Luke’s Gospel as he writes of his purpose to Theophilus.

We then pick up the story of Jesus following his baptism and temptation in the desert. These will be dealt with in more detail during the Lenten Season. Luke’s Gospel refers in a summary way to Jesus early ministry in Galilee (The works we have been hearing about in Mark’s Gospel during the week.)

Jesus comes to the Synagogue and reads from Isaiah (Isaiah 61;1-3). The passage refers to the coming of the Messiah and the mission of the Son of God to the poor and marginalized. He then tells those listening; "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." The Gospel tells us that Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s prophetic vision of the coming Messiah.

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Reflection:

Have you ever considered for a moment how utterly alone those who do not believe in God must feel. Yes, while they are young and vital they can ignore the huge gulf of emptiness that surrounds their spirits. They are empty because they do not perceive what is there. Like a person who is color blind, they cannot feel the loving presence that is God who wants only there happiness and love. It is when they see the lonely path they have traveled coming to an end that most call out in despair for a face or a hand they have rejected.

While some of these atheistic people are in that situation because they have never been told that God exists (if you want a test some time, try evangelizing a young person from mainland China where atheism is the norm), others have found faith elusive and as a result have rejected God, sometimes in a benign way and sometimes violently.

Our Father has tried through the years to reach out to these self-excommunicated individuals in various ways. He invites all people to look at and marvel at his creation in all its richness and diversity. He has inspired some of those who were able to perceive his will over the ages to codify and record what God has revealed to them. This written record of God’s presence and intent has become for us a principle means by which we come to know God and his will for us.

The prophet Nehemiah was one of these special persons whom God selected to call his children to faith and happiness. Part of his story was presented as the first scripture passage and in it we find him calling all who can understand to feel the love God has for them and the love God asks in return.

St. Paul, the great evangelist and another one chosen by God to reveal his will to us, recognizes the unifying effect that the love of God in Christ must have on those who understand that God is alive and active with his people. He sees the marvelous diversity of the gifts God bestowed on his people and sees how those gifts may cooperate forming the living body of Christ on earth.

And finely, in St. Luke’s Gospel, revelation is presented in a way that pulls all of God’s historical revelatory efforts to its climax as Christ announces that He has come to fulfill what the sacred authors have long predicted, that God would come among them and show himself to them in a real way.

We marvel at God’s love for us, that he would so persistently work for our salvation and happiness. He asks that we, who have been graced with understanding and wisdom do not hide that understanding, keeping it as a persona treasure, but rather share it with those who have not yet been able to accept the love of God or the reality of his gift to us.

Pax

[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Jesus Teaching in the Synagogue” by James Tissot, 1886-96
[3] [3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.