First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4a.5-6. 8-10/Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:7.8.9.14 (R. Jn. 6:63) Second Reading: I Corinthians 12:12-30/Gospel Accl.: Lk. 4:18/Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Theme: Celebrate The Word And Live The Charisms
In his Apostolic Letter, Aperuit illis (Latin for the opening words of Luke 24:45 – “He opened their minds to understand the scriptures”), published on 30th September 2019, to mark the 1600th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome (c. AD 341-420) who single-handedly translated the Bible from Hebrew and Aramaic into Latin, Pope Francis instituted the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as the annual celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God. According to St. Jerome, ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of God. By this, we are encouraged to make God’s word the centre of our Christian lives by being devoted to it through reading, studying and dissemination.
In fact, in exile, some of the things the Israelites enjoyed in their own homeland were obviously unavailable. For instance, the Jews loved the Jerusalem Temple worship where they encountered God and offered various sacrifices ritually to him. This brought all the tribes of Jacob together. In this gathering, the feeling of nationhood and the belief that they are the chosen people of God, gave them a high sense of belonging in the history of humanity. They also cherished the readings and teachings of the Torah (Law) and the Nebiim (Prophets) in the synagogues. On top of this, the special place of sacred music with characteristic Jewish instruments made the Psalms the delight of the heart! Nonetheless, the cruelty and harsh treatment meted out to them in captivity, the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the breaking down of its wall, the burning down of the city gates and the spectacle of ruins seen all around, left them with absolutely nothing except nostalgia. Similar disasters ring a bell in our own minds too, so we turn to the readings!
In the first reading set in the context of the return from exile, the Jews are confronted with the tedious work of rebuilding their ruined habitation and divine patrimony under the leadership of Governor Nehemiah and the Priest-scribe Ezra. The post-exilic come-back discovers the Torah, and the longing to hear the word of God again, made them spend the entire morning reading, listening and explaining “the Book of the Law of Moses” till midday (cf. Neh. 8:1, 3). The words of scripture so heard, turns the initial reaction of grief and weeping into a disposition of inner peace culminating in tears of joy (cf. Neh. 8:9). Thus, the Israelites make a commitment to obey all the commands of God and they are encouraged to turn their fasting into feasting by sharing with the needy, for sharing is indeed, caring! (cf. Neh. 8:10). Even now, it still holds that anytime we attend Mass and pay reverential attention to the Liturgy of the Word, our hearts are inflamed and prepared to respond adequately and appropriately to the Liturgy of the Eucharist where we eat the Body and drink the Blood of Christ as one people. This brings joy which strengthens us (cf. Neh. 8:10). The Psalmist understands this perfectly and therefore, sings: “The Law of the Lord is perfect; it revives the soul. The precepts of the Lord are right; they gladden the heart” (cf. Ps. 19:7a, 8a). When we too make room for the word of God, we will come to acknowledge and say thus: “Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life” (cf. Jn. 6:63)
A similar experience of the significant role played by listening to the word of God is highlighted in today’s Gospel. Jesus himself, who is the Word of God in person (cf. Jn. 1:1-3, 14), goes to the synagogue in his home town Nazareth, where he is given the Book of Isaiah to read. Jesus always goes to the synagogue on Sabbaths, and this is a lesson for us that we do not have to abandon the assembling of God’s people (cf. Heb. 10:25). Jesus opens and reads Isaiah 61 where the words describing his prophetic mission as Messiah and Saviour are found. He says: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk. 4:18-19; cf. Is. 61:1-2). Though, his townsfolk look down on him because of familiarity, they are impressed and even lost in wonder at the gracious words of Jesus (cf. Lk. 4:22)! Indeed, God’s word is Good News! It uplifts, heals, protects, enlightens, vivifies, transforms, liberates and empowers (cf. Jer. 15:16, Ps. 119:11, 105, 107). We experience these when we live by the word.
So how can we allow the scriptures, the authentic word of God to have a central role in our lives? Using the analogy of the human body, St. Paul tells us in the second reading that we are the Body of Christ and individually members of it (cf. I Cor. 12:27). We are told that various spiritual gifts are given to us in order to proclaim God’s word and to build up the church. Some are more prominent like the power and teaching gifts. Others, like the service gifts, are somewhat in the background and do not attract much publicity; yet, without them, the church would not go on (cf. I Cor. 12:8). It is the same Spirit who apportions them. Hence, no one is to look down on any charism as doing so is detrimental. Even with the human body, the less presentable or weakest parts are the ones which need more attention, care and modesty. Ignoring such parts dishonours the entire body. In the same vein, our attention must not be fixed only on the so-called ‘strong’ gifts such as prophecy, healing, miracles, etc. Truly, they have their place in the building up of God’s people, but they are incomplete without the other gifts such as serving and helping others. None of the gifts is superior to another and all services rank the same with God, for it is the same Spirit who distributes them as he wills. So, let us learn to respect, appreciate and support each other for we need one another in order for the church to function appropriately.
According to the Greek philosopher, Plato, we do not say “My finger has a pain” but “I have a pain.” Thus, the body parts function integrally to make the person whole. Similarly, we are members of the church, and God’s word enjoins us to use our charisms complementarily in order to make the church whole. Consequently, we are not to entertain jealousy just as the parts of the body are not jealous of each other. We are to ensure essential unity, knowing too well that some are the hands, legs and mouth of Christ, while others are the head, eyes, nose, ears, etc. of the same. In all these, it is love, the divine adhesive, which binds all the gifts into a perfect harmony.
Beloved in Christ, God’s word comes to us regularly. We are to celebrate it for there is power in it. We devote ourselves to the Scriptures through loving obedience and the faithful and fruitful use of our charisms. While we do so, let us remember that we all need one another, and must work hand in hand to advance the kingdom of God. Nehemiah, Ezra, St. Paul and Jesus have shown us the way. God believes we can do this, and we must not disappoint the confidence he reposes in us. May God bless his words in our hearts! Happy Sunday! Remember: #Celebrate-the-Word-And-Live-The-Charisms#
