First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4A, 5-6, 8-10

Reflection:

This Sunday’s first reading takes place after the period of the Exile in the history of Israel. In 586 B.C. the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Jewish Temple. Then, they took many Israelites captive with them to Babylon. That formally began a period of exile for the Israelites that would last for about 70 years. After the Persians conquered the Babylonians, King Cyrus of Persia decreed that they could be freed from their captivity and return to their homeland of Palestine to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. Both Ezra and Nehemiah were leaders during this period of return and rebuilding. This reading takes place after they completed rebuilding the Temple and the city walls. This process did not merely involve rebuilding structures, it was a matter of rebuilding their lives and their identity as the people of God. A necessary part was to renew their covenant with God and reestablish their commitment to following the Law of Moses. The ceremony we hear about in this Sunday’s reading describes just that. The people gathered together and listened to Ezra, who was a priest, proclaim the Scriptures and interpret them for the people. They reaffirmed their commitment to these words with a profound, “Amen, Amen!” The scene will be very similar in the Gospel reading when Jesus, who is a priest, proclaimed and interpreted the Scriptures.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Reflection:

Here the Apostle Paul speaks of the Church as the Body of Christ. By virtue of our baptism and reception of the Holy Spirit, we are all united as one, despite differences of ethnicity, culture, race, economic status, etc. Therefore, we have a commonality with baptized Christians all around the world that unites us even more strongly than cultural ties. The Apostle Paul teaches that each member of the Body of Christ is essential, playing a necessary and unique role. His illustration of different human body parts indicates the unity and essential nature of each part. Just as all the parts of the human body must work together in order to function properly, so all the members of the Church must work together in unity in order for the Church to be healthy. It also means all members must use the gifts God has given them in order to fulfill their unique role in the Body of Christ and, therefore, help build up the Church. Every baptized Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift (also known as charisms). Paul lists a few here, but there are many more. Each of us is uniquely gifted, so we shouldn’t expect everyone to participate the same way in the ministry of the Church. Rather, we need to respect the different gifts of various members and help each other use our gifts well.

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Reflection:

The first part of this Sunday’s gospel reading comes from the prologue of Luke’s gospel. In it, Luke tells us that he is not the first to write an account of the events of Jesus’ life. In fact, we know that the Gospel of Luke was written after the gospels of Matthew and Mark. Luke, who was a Gentile physician and companion of the Apostle Paul, wrote as a historian “in an orderly sequence” what he had discovered about Jesus’ life from many eyewitness sources. He addressed his gospel (along with the Acts of the Apostles) to Theophilus who was likely the patron (i.e. financial sponsor) of the work. The name Theophilus also has spiritual significance because in Greek it means “Lover of God.” Thus, the Gospel of Luke is addressed to all lovers of God, including us today. The rest of the gospel reading recounts an early event in the ministry of Jesus. He returned to his hometown of Nazareth. Jesus was a practicing Jew so, “according to his custom,” he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath to worship. That day, he also happened to be the lector and homilist. The reading from the Prophet Isaiah was about the coming Messiah who would “proclaim liberty to captives” and “let the oppressed go free.” In light of these statements, the Israelites expected a political Messiah who would literally set them free from foreign oppression. But when Jesus read this passage, his homiletic explanation consisted of only one line: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus is the Messiah who fulfills this passage, but he did not come as a political leader to establish an earthly kingdom that is free from foreign oppression. Rather, he came as God in the flesh to set us free from the spiritual oppression and captivity of sin.

Application:

  • Jesus came to free us from sin. What sin do you need to be set free from? Offer that struggle up to God and ask for His forgiveness. If it is a mortal sin, visit the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
  • How has God gifted you? In other words, what charisms (i.e. spiritual gifts) do you have? Every Christian has an important and unique role to play in the Body of Christ. Are you doing your part to help the Body of Christ function as it should? How could you better build up the Body of Christ by using your gifts?