Third Sunday of the Year January 23, 2022
Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10; 1Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4;
4:14-21
Sunday of the Word of God
A young man went to meet the old preacher. The young man had
lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old
preacher. Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his
problem. Finally, he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to
say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer?" The
old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply - something so
hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. "What
did you say?" he asked. The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone
as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the
preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear
you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more.
"God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to
hear Him." This time the young man heard and he understood.
Today we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God. The Sunday
of the Word of God is observed annually on the third Sunday of Ordinary Time,
ever since Pope Francis established this celebration on 30 September 2019 to
remind Catholics of the importance of knowing Scripture.
Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, Motu proprio "Aperuit
illis", published on 30 September, establishes that "the Third Sunday
in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination
of the Word of God".
The title of the document, “Aperuit illis”, is equally important.
They are its opening words, taken from St Luke’s Gospel, where the Evangelist
describes how the Risen Jesus appeared to His disciples, and how “He opened
their minds to understand the Scriptures”.
In the Gospel passage, we heard Jesus proclaiming that the
year of the Lord's favour as it was written in the Scripture. By this Jesus
meant that the long-awaited messianic jubilee had finally arrived. The promised
messianic salvation had ultimately come. Jesus affirmed that He was the
long-awaited Messiah and they ought to rejoice in it. In His proclamation, Jesus said that He had
been anointed to bring good news to the poor, He had been sent to release the
captives, for the recovery of sight of the blind, and to let the oppressed go
free. Literally taken with a worldly approach, these words imply that Jesus had
come to bring abundance to those who were poor, to free the slaves and the
prisoners, to heal the blind, and to stop all worldly oppression. But this was
not what Jesus meant. Embracing a spiritual approach, it becomes clear that the
proclamation of the Lord Jesus was to announce the arrival of the Kingdom of
God on earth. The Kingdom of God was the good news that Jesus was proclaiming.
For the arrival of the Kingdom of God is to be fulfilled meant the arrival of
the promised Messiah. They are addressed directly to the materially poor, those
in prison, the physically blind, the oppressed, and exploited of the
world. The message for them is one of
hope, healing, and liberation.
What is the Word of God?
We often identify the Bible as the Word of God. This is not
wrong, but God speaks to our hearts in many different ways. For instance, he
speaks to us in prayer and through our conscience, and often through other
people. Hence, the Word of God covers much more than a printed book.
Nevertheless, the Bible is the privileged collection of communications between
God and his people. These stories and poems have nourished the lives of the
people of Israel and the Christian Church right through the centuries, and they
continue to nourish us today. They tell the story of God’s love and our
salvation from ancient times onwards. The scriptural texts offer us both
challenge and encouragement for our lives, and are especially valuable to us
through the hope they offer us at dark moments.
The Holy Spirit and the Scriptures
The Holy Spirit was at work in the whole process of the
formation of the Scriptures. This is why, even though many people across
different times and places contributed to the writing, we believe that the
Scriptures are divinely inspired. But the Holy Spirit’s work does not come to
an end with the writing of the text. The Holy Spirit, who dwells in us by
virtue of our baptism, is also at work in us as we listen to the text.
Therefore, through the Spirit’s inspiration, the words of Scripture can become
a living Word of the Lord to us here and now.
In Vedanta, we have 3-fold process
which leads one to complete Awakening and Realization. Shravana, Manana and
Nididhyasana.
Shravana is listening. Listening to
the (Truth) Word of God is the first step.
Manana is contemplating the (Truth)
Word of God is the second step.
Nididhyasana is living and
breathing the (Truth) Word of God is the third step.
However, we must add one more Anuṣṭhāna
– We put into practice the (Truth) Word of God.
Let us attentively listen to God who whispers in us and put into practice in our day to-day life.
Happy Sunday
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