3rd Sunday: Neh 8:2-6, 8-10. 1 Cor 12:12-30. Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21. The Gospel this weekend is this: Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21. Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, 3 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you havev received… 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: Neh 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 Cor 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 Christ. The variety of roles is an aspect of what we call the 'body of Christ'. 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 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 like 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 of Jerusalem, 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. 1º Cor 12:12-30. Lc 1:1-4, 4:14-21. Este domingo habla de la difusión de la palabra de Dios... por todos nosotros. La palabra se hizo carne y se hizo bien, pero Cristo todavía tiene un trabajo que hacer, y todos estamos llamados a jugar un papel en ayudarle. Todos somos parte del cuerpo de Cristo. El Evangelio tiene a Jesús introduciendose en la sinagoga de Nazaret y proclamando su intención de curar los problemas de la humanidad, pero necesita tu y yo ahora para ayudar. El Evangelio leído en la Misa de este domingo comienza realmente con Lucas diciendo a Teófilo que él está escribiendo el Evangelio porque se siente llamado por Dios para hacerlo. Lucas había sido realmente un 'doctor' (Col 4:14... suena bien para mí!). La primera lectura de Nehemías alaba a quienes entregó la fe a los judíos (que habla después del exilio babilónico de alrededor del 500 A.C.). La segunda lectura del San Pablo en alrededor del 50 a.d. habla de cómo todos tenemos un papel que desempeñar en ayudarle a Christo. La variedad de roles es un aspecto de lo que llamamos el 'Cuerpo de Cristo'. Y el papel que Dios quiere para nosotros puede ser o no lo que nosotros mismos hemos pensado. Por eso oremos meditando la palabra de Dios. ¿Es consciente de su papel? Podemos terminamos sorprendidos dentro de muchos años, cuando nos damos cuenta el efecto de nuestras vidas - el bien o el mal-efecto - o el efecto que nosotros hemos podido tener! St Therése de Lisieux es un ejemplo para mí en una silla de ruedas. Ella era monja en un convento Carmelita y murió de tuberculosis a los 24 años de edad (en 1897), pero ella demostró una gran preocupación por las misiones y escribió un libro sobre él. En 1925, el Papa Pius XI la nombró patrona de 'misioneros' y en 1997, John Paul II nombró doctor de la iglesia! Puede parecer irrelevante para algunos, pero lo simboliza cómo el fruto de nuestras vidas depende no sólo en nuestras actividades físicas, sino de la sinceridad del amor en nuestros corazones (aunque sea en silla de ruedas!). Seamos los apóstoles, evangelizadores y maestros de la segunda lectura de hoy, o estemos fregadoras de pisos, pero si somos gente generosa, amorosa, entonces nos podemos todos juegan un papel importante en el cuerpo de Cristo. Junto con es el llamado a respetar el papel de los demás. Esto puede significar hacer un esfuerzo por restaurar el orgullo de las personas que han sido 'colocar'. Sobre todo, queremos evitar la formación de las divisiones. Todos vamos juntos. Lo bueno que alguien lo hace, puede no ser incluso visible para nosotros. St Therése describió su papel como parte del corazón del cuerpo. Nuestros corazones permanecen en la misma parte de nuestro tórax todo el tiempo, pero bombear la sangre que llega a los pies de nuestros pequeño! ¿Somos conscientes de que los detalles de nuestras vidas pueden afectar a un niño hambriento en África? Estas lecturas son muy relevantes para misionero del Verbum Dei, ya que uno de los papeles que llaman es el de difundir la palabra de Dios. La primera lectura dice de Esdras y Nehemías encuentro personas a escuchar la palabra. Se refiere a los judíos después del exilio babilónico (aproximadamente 500 A.C.). Elogia el papel de sus antepasados en la entrega de la fe a ellos. Algunos hoy no prestan mucha atención a las lecturas del Antiguo Testamento en nuestras Misas, y es cierto que el Evangelio tienen preferencia, pero hoy el Evangelio sí mismo realmente Jesús llegar a desplazarse de Isaías para leer (LC 4:20-22). Por cierto, es realmente de Elías y Eliseo (libros de los reyes) que viene de la lectura! Me hace pensar en el lugar donde Jesús a los ojos del ciego y le dice que se lavara en el estanque de Siloé (Juan 9)... que enlaza con la costumbre judía de la época. Sin embargo, los fariseos más tarde objetan de le haber hecho esto en sábado! La historia del Evangelio de la Transfiguración (Mt 17 y Mk 9) retrata a Jesús dando importancia al Antiguo Testamento. Esto fue cuando Jesús trajeron Peter, James y Juan a una montaña alta y se transfiguran delante de ellos. Moses y Elijah aparecieron hablando con Jesús. Suena como un cuento de hadas, pero la Biblia comunica cosas utilizando imágenes y signos. Esta historia comunica como la palabra de Dios, a pesar de ser de varias formas, todo junto forma una unidad (historia, profecía, Salmos, Evangelio, cartas etc.). Moses y Elijah representan el Antiguo Testamento. Jesús trae la nueva. Y Peter, James y Juan escribieron cartas del nuevo testamento. Entre las lecturas en la misa a veces cantamos esto: 'un pan... Un solo cuerpo... Un Señor de todo. Una copa de bendición que bendecimos. Y nosotros, aunque muchos... en todo el mundo, somos un cuerpo en este Señor!' Sobre 580 A.C. (cuando Nabucodonosor de Babilonia destruyó Jerusalén) Jeremías pronunció el gran oráculo del "Nuevo pacto" (Jer 31: 31-34) a veces llamado ‘El Evangelio antes del Evangelio’. Este pasaje es un hito en la teología del Antiguo Testamento. El Profeta permaneció en medio de las ruinas de Jerusalén, pero más tarde se vio obligado al exilio egipcio por una banda de conspiradores. Allí, según una antigua tradición, fue asesinado por sus propios compatriotas. La influencia de Jeremías fue mayor después de su muerte que antes. Poco después de este pasaje de Jesús predicando en el Evangelio de hoy, dice que no se sorprendería si alguien fuera a hacer burla de él diciendo: "Doctor, ¿por qué no cura a sí mismo?" (LC 4:23), por lo que es sin duda relevante para este médico de Dublin que está ahora en silla de ruedas! No puedo ser un misionero activo como antes, pero todavía quiero hacer lo que Cristo quiere de mí (y me permite hacerlo) en su cuerpo - incluso si esto significa simplemente pulsando un teclado! Recuerda que el Evangelio comienza hoy con Lucas (el médico!) diciendo al 'excelente Teófilo' que ha decidido escribir la buena nueva (Lc 1:3)!
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