Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 26, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 / Ps 19 / 1 Cor 12:12-30 / Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

Today’s readings beautifully converge on the theme of God’s Word as the source of life, joy, and unity.  Each reading reminds us of the transformative power of scripture and the mission it inspires.

In our first reading, Ezra the priest reads the law of God to the people of Israel who had just returned from exile.  As they hear the Word, they are deeply moved, weeping in response to its power.  Ezra encourages them, saying, “Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength.”  This moment highlights the communal aspect of encountering God’s Word.  It is proclaimed, understood, and celebrated together.  The Word re-centers their identity as God’s chosen people, offering both correction and hope.

Saint Paul, in the second reading, emphasizes the unity and diversity of the Church, comparing it to the human body.  Each member has a unique role, but all are interconnected, forming one body in Christ.  The spirit binds this body together, empowering each of us to contribute to the mission of the Church.  This teaching complements the first reading by showing how living out God’s Word involves both individual responsibility and communal harmony.

Paul’s beautiful imagery of the Church as the body of Christ reminds us of the profound unity and diversity within our faith community.  Paul likens the Church to a physical body where each member has a unique role and function.  The independence of the body shows that when one member suffers, the whole body suffers, and when one member is honored, all rejoice together.  This reminds us of our call to compassion and solidarity.  We are not isolated individuals, but part of a community where our joys and sorrows are shared.

In the gospel, Jesus begins his public ministry by proclaiming a passage from Isaiah.  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.”  After reading, He declares, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  Jesus positions himself as the fulfillment of God’s promises, bringing liberation, healing, and restoration.  His mission is not abstract but grounded in the needs of the marginalized and broken-hearted.

The Word of God is the central theme, uniting these readings.  In Nehemiah, the Word is rediscovered.  In Corinthians, it calls us to live in unity and purpose.  In Luke, it is fulfilled in Christ.  Together, they remind us that God’s Word is not just to be heard, but to be lived, transforming our communities and the world.

There is a story of the six blind men who set out to discover what the elephant is.  The first blind man feels the elephant’s side and says that the elephant is like a wall.  The second blind man feels the elephant’s tusk and says it is like a spear.  The third feels the trunk and says it is like a snake.  The fourth feels the elephant’s leg and says the elephant is like a tree.  The fifth feels the ear and says it is like a fan.  The sixth blind man feels the elephant’s tail and concludes that the elephant is like a rope.

You can imagine the bitter disagreement that would ensue among them if they got together to discuss the nature of the elephant.  Every one of them would insist that he is right, and the others are wrong.  But the truth of the matter is that yes, he is right, but then so also are all the others.  Each of them has a valid experience of the elephant, but not one of them possesses the full knowledge of the total reality of the elephant.  Even when you put all the six images of the elephant together, it still does not capture the full mosaic of the elephant.

After Vatican II, the Church revised the Sunday readings into a three-year cycle.  Year A focuses on the Gospel of Matthew, Year B on Mark, and Year C on Luke.  The Gospel of John is spread throughout the cycle, particularly on significant Sundays such as those in the Easter season.  Currently, we are in year C, in the year dedicated to Luke.  This prompts an important question:  What aspect of the mystery of Christ does Luke emphasize, and how does it differ from the focus of the other gospels?

One scholar offers a concise way to understand the unique themes of each gospel.  Matthew emphasizes Christ’s majesty, healing by Word alone, never touching people, and demonstrating divine authority, even in His emotions, remaining calm and composed.  Mark highlights Christ’s might, showing His identity as Messiah through acts of power and authority over nature and demons.  Luke, however, presents Christ as the face of mercy, reaching out to the poor, the marginalized, foreigners, and women.  Finally, John reveals the Christ of mystery, eternally with the Father, revealing profound truths that lead to eternal life.

Today we began reading the Gospel of Luke.  In his opening preface, Luke explains that he wrote this gospel to help Theophilus, likely a Roman official, understand the essence of Christianity.  Have you ever tried to explain what Christianity is all about?   Many people mistakenly view it as a system of rules, focusing on sin, judgment, heaven, and hell, a religion where God is seen as a heavenly policeman, constantly tracking our sins and waiting to punish us.

Luke offers a profoundly different perspective.  For him, Christianity is primarily about God’s love and mercy, not condemnation.  This is why Luke includes the account of Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth, a pivotal moment found only in this gospel.  Here, Jesus proclaims his mission which can be described as the “Jesus Manifesto.”  Jesus initiates a revolution of mercy and love by saying, “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.”  In this profound declaration, Jesus reveals His mission:  to bring good news to the poor, to set captives free, to heal the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the time of God’s favor.  This is the heart of Jesus’ work in Luke’s gospel, a mission of love, compassion, and transformation.

As Christians, we are therefore called to rediscover the joy of Scripture.  Like the Israelites in Nehemiah’s time, we are called to cherish God’s Word.  Make time this week to prayerfully read Scripture, letting it touch your heart.  We are also invited to reflect on our own unique gifts, on how we can serve our community, whether through teaching, acts of charity, or prayer.  Every contribution matters.

Christ’s mission is now ours.  How can we bring glad tidings to the poor in our daily lives?  We can consider acts of kindness, advocacy for justice, or offering comfort to someone in need.  Pope Francis reminds us that the Bible is not just a beautiful book to keep on the shelf.  It is the Word of Life to be sown, a gift that Jesus asks us to accept in order to have life in His name.  Let us open our hearts to God’s Word, allowing it to transform us and guide our mission as disciples of Christ.  Together, we can build a community rooted in love, united in purpose, and inspired by the Spirit.