3 rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) 24 January 2010

I will always remember last week’s collection for the people of Haiti following the earthquake there. Your generosity surpasses anything that could have been anticipated. As well as that, your outpouring of prayers, your words expressing your pain and sorrow for the living, the dying and the dead of Haiti were sacred words that I heard from so many. This is a sign of the Kingdom of God in our midst.

At moments of disaster we are particularly sensitive to the sufferings of others. We hear their cries and are moved to draw closer and do what we can to answer in whatever way possible. Your response is God-like and gives us a glimpse of our community at its best.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today we are given two accounts of God speaking loving words to His people. First, there is Ezra a priest, reading the Torah, the Book of the Law. It took from early morning to noon to read. The people listening to these words are back after a disastrous Exile. They are at their lowest point ever. They have lost everything. They must begin again. Ezra faces the daunting task of bringing them together as a community of faith. Not only does he read, but he translates and gives the listeners the sense of the passage of scripture so that they can better understand.

By listening to the Word of God, the people hear how they have been unfaithful. They can see how they have been disobedient and self-willed in rejecting God’s law. Their reaction is interesting: “For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.” (1 st Reading) Once they hear God’s word they repent of their sins saying, Amen, Amen.

Now the people can go away with a glimmer of hope: “For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.” The people do go away renewed and begin life again. This time they will be more aware of God’s word spoken to them.

Today we hear of Jesus reading from the Scripture on the Sabbath day in the synagogue of Nazareth where he had grown up. He picks a reading from the prophet Isaiah by which He will announce his mission. It will involve:

Good news for the poor

Liberty for captives

New sight for the blind

Freedom for the downtrodden and

A year of the Lord’s favour for all

Then, Jesus says that today this text is being fulfilled even as they (and we) listen.

When we hear the Word of God, it is a ‘today’ message for each of us. Sometimes, I don’t realise this and I think that what God is saying relates only to the past. For a moment, ask yourself, what is God saying to me today? The teaching of the Church is clear; when the Scripture is proclaimed in the Liturgy, it is Christ himself who is speaking.

In the 3 rd Century, Origen, a preacher, said:

“You receive the Body of the Lord with special care and reverence lest the smallest crumb of the consecrated gift fall to the floor. You should receive the Word of God with equal care and reverence, lest the smallest word of it fall to the floor and be lost.”

Aidan Troy, C.P. [Aodhán ó Troighthigh, C.P.]