Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 69

Reading 1

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!"

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 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.

Reading 2

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?

Or

1 Corinthians 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.

Alleluia

Cf. Luke 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.

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."

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

We are indeed one body, one body in Jesus Christ. We are all unique creations that God willed into existence. There are no two people alike in this world and that is not a mistake. It was God’s intent to make us special in His image. With that, each person has specific skills and talents that set them apart from another. Personalities, likes, and dislikes also differ. What we then have is a virtual melting pot of different persons making up this wonderful creation that God has given us. Even though conflict may arise with different needs and desires coming forth from billions of different people, there can also be consensus if the focus becomes Jesus Christ. Recognizing God as the Father and creator is the first step to surrendering our will to Him. When this happens, what He wants takes precedent and what we want becomes secondary. There is a shared experience and primary goal: to do what God wants. Since God is perfect, there can be no error in what God wants in comparison to what we may want at a given time. It should behoove us to remember this if we truly want to experience joy in our lives. We can then utilize that which has been given to us in service to God. This is the concept of the Living Body of Jesus Christ. Our uniqueness, in service to God, brings about a common vision of perfection through Jesus. We serve as stewards to God’s creation and can then go about building up His kingdom on this earth.

 

No one can do what is expected of another. No one is replaceable. As Jesus said, “Are two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.” He knows us intimately and cares for us personally. Just as He knows us and cares for us, we should know and care for each other. There can be no animosity between any of us. There should also be no animosity between us and God. Where there is conflict, evil abounds. There is no evil with God, thus there should be no evil amongst us. When all are working towards what Jesus tells us to do, we are entering into relationship with God. That is when the body functions as it was expected to function.

 

Psalm 40 professes,

 

“Here I am; your commands for me are written in the scroll.

  To do your will is my delight;

  my God, your law is in my heart.”

 

The scrolls are our Sacred Scripture from God and Divine Revelation through prayer. Today, Jesus read from Isaiah “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,” and that the passage read was fulfilled with His presence. This we must recognize if we are to live our lives according to the will of God. Nothing should be said or done without an acknowledgement of Jesus and His influence upon our lives. This is the key to true joy and happiness. The more we work towards this understanding, the less fears and anxieties we will feel. Reacting to Jesus is a lot better than reacting to the calamities we will indeed experience in this life. Jesus offers the solution: working together to do the good works that are expected from us as God’s children.

 

“Jesus Christ is the definitive Good News of God to all the nations on the earth. (Abbot Christian Leisy).” When this is proclaimed in our faith-life, then the will of God is revealed, and we can all work together towards a common goal guided by the Love of God. Things become simpler as a result and the path to salvation is revealed. With commonality comes understanding and a desire to help each other without hindering. Then, truly the words of the Lord become Spirit and life.

 

Deacon Tom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 66

Reading I

Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
   for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
   and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
   and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
   pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
   a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken, “
   or your land “Desolate, “
but you shall be called “My Delight, “
   and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
   and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
   your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
   so shall your God rejoice in you.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10

R. (3) Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
            sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
            among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
            give to the LORD glory and praise;
            give to the LORD the glory due his name! 
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Worship the LORD in holy attire.
            Tremble before him, all the earth;
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
            He governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Reading II

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Brothers and sisters:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another, the expression of knowledge according to the
same Spirit;
to another, faith by the same Spirit;
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another, mighty deeds;
to another, prophecy;
to another, discernment of spirits;
to another, varieties of tongues;
to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

Alleluia

2 Thessalonians 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
“Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it. 
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

 

Our true purpose and understanding of our lives can be realized through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Once we recognize the presence of Jesus Christ, we are then open to the Holy Spirit, which is the Love of God. The Spirit dwells in all of us, since we have been created by God. It is up to us to recognize its presence and react to it. We can ignore it, or we can embrace it. Depending on what we do, it can either have a tremendous impact on us or can have a minimal effect. In the Scripture reading today from, the prophet was moved by the Holy Spirit to proclaim a day of vindication and renewal for the people of Israel. He said that he would not be silent. For the sake of everyone he would not be quiet. This was an individual choice, with him recognizing that the spirit of God descended upon him and he had something to say. What was not written was the fact that he did not have to speak. He could have ignored what God wanted him to do and instead put his will before God’s; doing what he wanted to do instead. Prophets, though having a unique relationship with God, are very similar to us in nature and what we can experience. Opening ourselves to the Holy Spirit will bring forward unique talents and abilities that make us special in the eyes of God. No one is the same. At the same time, each of us are encouraged by God to use that fact as a vehicle to both give Him glory and be partners with Him to repair His creation which was broken by Original Sin. When we do good things, we feel good. When we are productive in a positive way, we are lifted up emotionally and spiritually as a direct result. This is a reaction to the presence of God’s Love.

 

Acts of charity and kindness are usually done because it is the right thing to do. Many times, the thought of God is not in our thoughts when they are done, but that doesn’t mean He isn’t the prime mover behind these acts. Since all good things originate from God, it is impossible to separate the act from its origin. We are vehicles of God’s love and His works. There are some who would insist they are doing things because. “it is the right thing to do,” without the influence of God, but this is impossible because God is the ultimate good and all that is good flows from Him. This means that we are workers in His field and serving in His capacity. Because of this, these good works must be our central purpose. They also become a way to proclaim our love of God. The Apostle Paul’s letter is a message of action. He reminds us that the Spirit of God is present and manifests itself in different forms. Regardless of that fact, it is the same Spirit that is the guiding force behind God’s will. We are encouraged to recognize this and validate this through our actions. The words of the Prayer of Saint Francis come to mind: “Make me a channel of your peace.” Asking for God’s assistance to the openness to the His Spirit, positions us in the best possible way to carry out our true purpose. To know God is to love God. To serve God becomes an expression of that love. We will then feel God’s love more strongly.

 

It is a mistake to think that all actions are linked to the physical. Just as there are Corporal Works of Mercy, there are also spiritual works that invite us to engage in the metaphysical aspects of our faith. Prayer and worship are powerful tools that can be easily underestimated and underused. Our spiritual life is a weapon against evil. It also is what completes us, revealing who we really are as a person. God wants to hear from us. He wants to engage in a dialog. Just as we communicated and interact with all those we love; it is the same with God. Even though He may already know what we need and feel, He wants to hear it from us. Prayer is a conversation. It is not one-sided. We have an opportunity to talk to our God. Through conversation, we get to know Him better. We can then understand what He wants from us and what He can do for us.

 

With God, there is always opportunity. We are offered this continuously. Even though there are many opportunities that we may have in our lives, this one presents the greatest chance because it involves one that includes God. We will be complete and satisfied as a result. There is no substitute, for the replacement is never as good as the original product, especially when it originates from God. At Cana, Jesus transformed water into wine, perfect wine. We too can be transformed into something perfect through His actions perpetuated through our actions, guided by His love.

 

Deacon Tom