The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, January 21, 2001
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Nehemiah 8:2-6,8-10
Psalm 19:8-10,15
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
Rejoicing in the Lord must be our strength. (see: Nehemiah 8:10)
Sartre', the French writer-philosopher, suggested that hell is other
people; in one sense he is right. For humanity's unregenerate souls
have created a society largely devoid of God's peace, justice, truth
and love; they have reduced our earthly home to a place of unending
miseries for ourselves and others.
Today's readings provide us with two opposite reactions to hearing
God's word. In Nehemiah, the Israelites listening to the law being
read, realized their infidelities toward God and prostrated
themselves, weeping in repentance. Their teachers told them to arise,
rejoice and celebrate, since their just and loving God had given them
the words of life and they had accepted them.
Conversely, Jesus, returning to His native Nazareth, found the people
so lacking in faith that He did not work many miracles for them. This
in addition to His criticizing them for failing to realize that the
prophetic words of the Messiah's coming had been fulfilled that day
caused them to try expelling Him from town by throwing Him off the
brow of a hill. We needn't feel superior to the Israelites; such
attitudes toward Christ (and Christians) prevail today.
St Paul's letter explains to the Corinth Christians the intimate
relationship they must maintain with Christ who is head of His body,
the Church. They have been united to Him in His Holy Spirit through
Baptism. Though their gifts and functions vary as members in His
body, yet each in a unique way, working in harmony with the other
members, can make Christ known to this world.
Merciful Lord,
make us one in You,
that in word and action
we will make Your glad tidings
known to all in need.
Amen.
- Marie L. Bocko OCDS ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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