January 24, 2016
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today in the Sunday Lectionary we have verses from two chapters in the Gospel according to St. Luke. Our proclamation begins in chapter 1 with St. Luke giving us his purpose in fashioning another narrative about Jesus. Luke is not an eyewitness. He is using sources. But he composes a narrative that is orderly and is directed to assure those who have heard of Jesus that the testimony is true. He intends the narrative for Theophilus -- perhaps the person underwriting the endeavor. But the name hints at a wider audience. “Theophilus†in Greek means “friend of God.†The Gospel is intended for all friends of God who hear about Jesus and desire to follow his way. After this introduction regarding the purpose and recipient of the Gospel, we skip to chapter 4 when Jesus comes home to Nazareth and goes to the synagogue. A scroll of the prophet Isaiah is handed to Jesus and he proclaims the Word of God. “The spirit of the Lord is upon me. I am anointed to bring glad tidings to the poor; liberty to captives; release to the oppressed; sight to the blind; and to announce a year acceptable to the Lord.†Jesus sits down and says: “Today this reading is fulfilled in your hearing.†Listeners are awestruck. Do you recognize that what is happening is the Liturgy of the Word? We break the bread of the Word within the assembly as the Body of Christ. What we hear and reflect upon is more than a sacred text it is the mission statement of Jesus. We too are called to follow Jesus by living his inaugural sermon at Nazareth.
Previous:
2nd Sunday Ordinary Time
Next:
4th Sunday Ordinary Time
