Reading is Fundamental

Jan. 26: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today, the third Sunday of Ordinary Time, is called “Sunday of the Word of God,” for reasons that will become obvious as we go through the readings. Pope Francis instituted the commemoration in 2019 with his apostolic letter, Aperuit illis— “He opened them,” a title that comes from today’s Gospel reading.

We have to open the scriptures, certainly, but we also have to be open to them. We have to let God’s Word affect us, so that they’re not merely words on a page, but The Word inscribed on our hearts.

Reading 1

Neh 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!"

This scene takes place after the exiles have returned from Babylon. The exile lasted several generations, and so many of these Israelites have never even seen Jerusalem. And so Ezra is re-acquainting them with God’s law, as their grand parents and great parents new it. The people wept because they were just now realizing that they hadn’t been worshiping God according to the covenant all of these generations away from the promised land.

Sure, some of that wasn’t there fault; the first temple had been destroyed. But some of it was, due to their ignorance and neglect. Their repentance is totally understandable.

Ezra’s response is remarkable. He doesn’t chastise them or encourage them to weep and gnash their teeth. Just the opposite! He reminds them of God’s mercy. He tells them today is a holy day, the day they get to reminded of God’s covenant. They should be glad for the reminder. They’re back in line with God, as they should be.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (cf 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.

God laid out His law for us a long time ago. Unlike the Israelites in exile, we have easy access to scripture. It’s usually pretty clear what God wants us to do, most of the time. Whether we do it or not is a totally different question.

Reading 2

1 Cor 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?

We are individuals. We have a personal relationship with our creator, who made each one of us because he loves us specifically and uniquely.

But we are also part of something bigger than ourselves—the Church. We are members of a community, we participate in communal worship.

These aren't contradictions or paradoxes. Both are true—we're individuals and part of a community.

Alleluia

Cf. Lk 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

This is one of the primary reasons God sent His only Son.

Gospel

Lk 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."

We happened to have read much of today’s Gospel a few weeks ago. For today’s celebration of the Word of God, the Church has added a little bit of context from the beginning of Luke’s Gospel.

In the introduction, Luke explains to Theophilus¹ why he’s writing a Gospel. He wanted to investigate for himself all the things he’d heard about Jesus. But why bother to write down his investigations? Physicist and Cal Tech professor Richard Feynman once said,² “If you can’t explain it to a first-year student, you don’t really understand it.”

Reading about history and theology is one thing. But to really grasp it, to deeply understand it, you have to put it into your own words. That’s what Luke did two millennia ago; that’s why I do this now.

Jesus is the living Word of God. He’s not fixed in print. Every generation, from the Babylonian exile through to earliest Christians up to today, have to learn it, live it, and pass it on in their own way. Jesus’ words are the foundation, from which we should never deviate, but reading, studying, understanding, and celebrating them are an ongoing process.

1. Theophilus translates literally to “Friend of God.” It’s possible Luke isn’t addressing a specific person, but rather any Christian seeking to grow in their faith.

2. I’m paraphrasing, because it’s impossible to find the original quote.