3rd Sunday in Ordinary TimeNehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21 The Gospel this weekend is this: Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21 He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread 4 and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test." …4: 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. 15 He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. 16 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 17 and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: 18 "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, 19 and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." 20 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. 21 He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." The first reading is this: Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10 On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand. 3 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. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion; at his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, Meshullam. 5 Ezra 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. 6 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… 8 Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. 9 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. 10 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!" The second reading is this: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 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. 13 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. 14 Now the body is not a single part, but many. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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? 18 But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you," nor again the head to the feet, "I do not need you." 22 Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, 23 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, 24 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, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. 26 If (one) part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. 27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it. 28 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. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? MEDITATION:
This Sunday is about the spreading of the Word of God… by all of us. The Word became flesh and did well, but Christ still has a job to do, and we're all called to play a role in helping Him. We're all part of the Body of Christ. The Gospel has Jesus introducing himself in the synagogue of Nazareth and proclaiming his intention to cure the problems of mankind, but He needs you and I now to help. The Gospel read at mass this Sunday actually begins with Luke telling Theophilus that he's writing the Gospel because he feels called by God to do so. Luke had actually been a 'doctor' (Col 4:14… sounds good to me!). The first reading of Nehemiah praises those who handed the faith down to the Jews (he's talking after the Babylonian exile of about 500 BC). The second reading of St Paul in about 50 a.d. speaks of how we all have a part to play in helping. The variety of roles is an aspect of what we call the 'body of Christ'. January 18 to 25 of every year is actually seen by the churches as a week of prayer for the unity of Christians. And the role which God wants for us may or may not be that which we ourselves have thought up. That's why we pray meditating God's Word. Are you aware of your role? We may end up surprised in many years time, when we realize the effect of our lives - the good or the ill-effect - or the effect that we have failed to have! St Therése of Lisieux is an example for me in a wheelchair. She was a Carmelite nun in a convent and died of T.B. at 24 years of age (in 1897), yet she showed a big concern for the missions and wrote a book about it. In 1925, Pope Pius XI named her the patroness of 'missionaries', and in 1997, John Paul II named her a 'doctor' of the Church! That may seem irrelevant to some, but it symbolizes how the fruit of our lives depends not just on our physical activities, but on the sincerity of the love in our hearts (even if in a wheelchair!). We may be the Apostles, evangelizers or teachers of the second reading today, or we may be scrubbers of floors, but if we are generous, loving people, then we can all play an important role in the Body of Christ. Along with that is the call to respect the role of others. It may mean making an effort to restore the pride of people who have been 'put down'. Above all, we want to avoid forming divisions. We all go together. The good that someone does, may not even be visible to us. St Therése of Lisieux described her role as being part of the heart of the Body. Our hearts remain in the same part of our thorax all the time, but they pump blood that reaches our little toes! Are we aware in Europe that the details of our lives may be affecting a hungry child in Africa? These readings are very relevant for a Verbum Dei missionary, since one of the roles for which they call is that of spreading the Word of God. The first reading tells of Ezra and Nehemiah gathering people to listen to the Word. It's referring to the Jews after the Babylonian exile (about 500 BC). It praises the role of their ancestors in handing the faith down to them. Some today don't pay much attention to the Old Testament readings in our masses, and it's true that the Gospel's do take preference, but today the Gospel itself actually has Jesus getting a scroll of Isaiah to read out (Lk 4:20-22). By the way, it’s actually from Elijah and Elisha (Books of Kings) that the reading comes! It makes me think of the place where Jesus rubs the eyes of the blind man plus tells him to wash in pool of Siloam (John 9)… that links with the Jewish custom of the time. However, the Pharisees later object to him having done this on the Sabbath! Then he says "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." (Mt 5:17-18). 'Thus says the LORD: "Stand beside the earliest roads, ask the pathways of old which is the way to good, and walk it; thus you will find rest for your souls".' (Jer 6:16). The Gospel story of the Transfiguration (Mt 17 and Mk 9) portrays Jesus giving importance to the Old Testament. This was when Jesus brought Peter, James and John up a high mountain and was transfigured before them. Moses and Elijah appeared talking with Jesus. It sounds l ike a fairy-tale, but the Bible communicates things to us using images and signs. This story communicates how the Word of God, in spite of being in various forms, all together forms a unity (history, prophecy, psalms, gospel, letters etc). Moses and Elijah represent the Old Testament. Jesus brings the New. And Peter, James and John wrote New Testament letters. Between the readings at mass we sometimes sing this: 'One bread... One body... One Lord of all. One cup of blessing which we bless. And we, though many... throughout the world, we are one body in this one Lord!' About 580 B.C. (when Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem) Jeremiah uttered the great oracle of the "New Covenant" (Jer 31:31-34) sometimes called "The Gospel before the Gospel." This passage is a landmark in Old Testament theology. The prophet remained amidst the ruins ofJerusalem, but was later forced into Egyptian exile by a band of conspirators. There, according to an old tradition, he was murdered by his own countrymen. The influence of Jeremiah was greater after his death than before. Soon after this passage of Jesus preaching in the Gospel today, he says that it wouldn’t surprise him if someone were to mock him saying "Doctor, why don't you cure yourself?" (Lk 4:23), so that's certainly relevant for this Dublin doctor who's now in a wheelchair! I can't be an active missionary like before, but I still want to do whatever Christ wants of me (and enables me to do) in his Body - even if it means just pressing a bloody keyboard! After all, the Gospel today begins with Luke (the doctor!) telling ‘most excellent Theophilus’ that he’s decided to write down the Good News (Lk 1:3). ............Dara. En ESPAÑOL: 3º Domingo: Neh 8:2-6, 8-10. 1ºCor 12:12-30. Lc 1:1-4, 4:14-21. Este Domingo es sobre el compartir de la Palabra de Dios… hecho por todos. La Palabra se hizo hombre y hizo bien, y Cristo tiene mucho para hacer toda vía, y estamos todos llamados a ayudarle. Participamos todos en el Cuerpo de Cristo. El Evangelio es de Jesús introduciéndose en la sinagoga de Nazarea, anunciando su intención de curar los problemas de la humanidad, pero ahora necesita nuestra ayuda. Lucas empieza su Evangelio hoy diciendo a Teófilo que está escribiendo porque se siente llamado por Dios. Lucas de hecho había sido un ‘medico’ (Col 4:14… ¡me suena bien a mi!). La primera lectura de Nehemías alaba a los que han conservado la fe para los Judíos (está hablando después del exilio en Babilonia cerca de 500 años antes de Cristo). La segunda lectura de San Pablo, 50 años después de Cristo, habla de que podemos todos participar. La variedad de papeles es un aspecto de lo que llamamos 'el Cuerpo de Cristo'. De hecho, Enero 18-25 para muchas iglesias es nombrada 'semana para la unidad de los Cristianos'. Y puede ser que hemos pensado bien ya en el papel que Dios nos quiere dar, ¡o puede ser que no! Es por eso que oramos meditando la Palabra de Dios. ¿Sabes cual es tu papel? Puede ser que nos sorprenderá después de muchos años, cuando nos daremos cuenta del efecto de nuestras vidas - ¡efectos buenos o malos! Santa Teresa de Lisieux me da ejemplo en mi silla de ruedas. Era una monja Carmelita en un convento y murió de tuberculosis a los 24 años (en 1897), pero mostró una preocupación grande por las misiones y escribió un libro sobre ellas. En 1925, Pío XI la nombró 'patrona de las misiones', ¡y en 1997, Juan Pablo II le nombró 'doctora de la Iglesia'! Puede importar poco a algunos, pero simboliza como el fruto de nuestras vidas depende no solamente de nuestros trabajos físicos, sino de la sinceridad del amor en nuestros corazones. Pude ser que seremos como los Apóstoles, los evangelizadores o los profesores de la segunda lectura de hoy, o puede ser que nos toca limpiar suelos, pero si amamos generosamente, entonces podemos tener todos un papel importante en el Cuerpo de Cristo. Junto con esto, está la llamada a respetar el papel de otros. Puede ser que toca rescatar la dignidad de personas que han sido insultadas. Sobre todo, queremos evitar la formación de divisiones.Vamos juntos. Tratamos a todos con respeto. Puede ser que el otro hace algo bueno que ni siquiera sabemos. Santa Teresita (de Lisieux) describió su papel como corazón en el Cuerpo. El corazón está siempre en la misma parte del pecho, ¡pero bombea sangre que llega hasta el dedo pequeño! ¿Somos concientes en Europa de que los detalles de nuestras vidas afectan a un niño hambriento en África? Estas lecturas son muy relevantes para un misionero Verbum Dei, porque uno de los papeles pedidos es el de transmitir la Palabra de Dios. La primera lectura tiene a Ezra y Nehemías reuniendo a la gente para escuchar la Palabra. Refiere a los Judíos después del exilio de Babilonia (cerca del 500 antes de Cristo). Alaba al papel de sus antecedentes en transmitirles la fe. Algunos, hoy en día, no prestan atención a las lecturas del Antiguo Testamento en la misa, y es vedad que los Evangelios son más importantes, pero hoy El Evangélio mismo tiene a Jesús tomando un rollo de Isaías para leer (Lc 4:20-22) - (De hecho, las lecturas vienen de Elías y Eliseo en los libros de Reyes!). En Juan 9, Jesús cura al ciego tocándole los ojos y le envia lavarse en la piscina de Siloé y aquello le vincula con las costumbres de los Judíos del tiempo, sin embargo, ¡los fariseos le critican después, por haberlo hecho el Sábado! Después dice Jesús: “No penséis que he venido para hablar en contra de la Ley o de los profetas. No he venido en contra sino para dar cumplimiento. Amen, os digo, cielo y tierra pasarán antes que una letra-un tilde de la Ley, hasta que todo se ha cumplido.” (Mt 5:17-28). Para citar a Jer 6:16: 'Así dice el Señor: “Mirad a los caminos de antes y caminad por ellos, entonces encontraréis descanso para vuestras almas”'. El Evangelio hablando de la Transfiguración muestra a Jesús dando importancia al Antiguo Testamento. Es cuando Jesús llevó a Pedro, Santiago y Juan por un monte alto y fue transfigurado ante ellos. Aparecieron Moisés y Elías hablando con Él. Parece como un cuento de fábula, pero la Biblia nos comunica cosas importantes con imágenes y signos. Aquel encuentro simboliza como la Palabra de Dios, a pesar de tener muchas formas, forma una unidad - historia, profecía, salmos, Evangelio, cartas, etc. Moisés y Elías representan al Antiguo Testamento. Jesús trae el Nuevo. Y Pedro, Santiago y Juan escribieron cartas del Nuevo Testamento. Entre las lecturas de la misa cantamos a veces esto: ‘Un pan... Un cuerpo... Un Señor de todos. Una taza de bendición qué bendecimos. Y aunque muchos... a lo largo del mundo, ¡somos un cuerpo en este unico Señor!’ Cerca de 580 antes de Cristo (cuando Nabucodonosor de Babilonia destruyó Jerusalén), Jeremías escribió el gran oráculo del 'Nuevo Testamento' (Jer 31:31-34) que se llama a veces 'el Evangélio antes del Evangélio'. Aquel trozo es muy importante en la teología del Antiguo Testamento. El profeta se quedó entre las ruinas de Jerusalén, y después fue entregado por una banda de conspiradores al exilio en Egipto. Allí, según la tradición, fue matado por su propia gente. La influencia de Jeremías fue más después de su muerte que antes. Justo después de este pasaje hoy de Jesús predicando en la sinagoga, dice que no le sorprendería si alguien se burlara de Él diciendo “Médico, ¿porqué no te curas a ti mismo?” (Lc 4:23, entonces ¡es relevante para este médico de Dublín - qué ahora está en silla de ruedas! No puedo actuar en la misión exactamente como antes, pero no me deprime. Quiero hacer lo que sea que Cristo quiere de mi (y me deja hacer). ¡Todavía me encanta estar en el Cuerpo de Cristo comunicando su Buena Nueva - ¡aún si significa pasar tiempo empujando un bendito teclado! De hecho, el Evangelio de hoy empieza con Lucas (¡el médico!) diciendo a ‘su excelencia’ Teofilo que él ha decidido poner la Buena Nueva por escrito (Lc 1:3). ............Dara. Comments are closed.
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