THE WORD OF GOD

 III SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10

This Sunday is dedicated to the Word of God. The Word is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God who became flesh and lived among us. As the word, the Son reveals the Father and leads us to Him. He addresses us, calls us by name, and establishes a loving relationship. God speaks to us. His word is a call, and a challenge. We need an open mind and a listening heart to listen to God’s word. The word of God gives understanding and constitutes a guide to our lives. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

In this Sunday of the Word of God, we are invited to celebrate the Word and become aware of the great importance of the word in our lives and in the life of the Church. For this celebration, we are presented with two texts from the Scriptures: the first reading and the gospel.

In exile, the Jews learnt to live without the Temple as the great sign of God’s presence in the middle of his people. Little by little, the reading of the Scriptures in the community took the place of the sacrifices and the synagogue would replace the Temple. When the exiles returned to their homeland, the importance of the community reading of the Scriptures grew in appreciation. The solemn proclamation of the word came to be accepted as the opportunity for the community to hear God speaking to them.

The first reading presents the great assembly organised by Ezra and Nehemiah for the public and solemn reading of God’s word. The occasion is presented as a big feast in which the hearts of all those present were touched by the commandments of the Lord.

With the passing of time, the synagogues could be found everywhere. They were community houses where people gathered to hear the word and worship the Lord. In Nazareth, as in Capernaum as in many other places, there was a synagogue where a liturgy of the word was celebrated every sabbath. Jesus went there as he used to do and was called upon to read a passage from Isaiah. It was a passage about the Messiah, and Jesus understood it as speaking of him. He is the one anointed with the Spirit to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

The Scriptures speak of Christ and lead us to Christ. In them, we hear God calling us and revealing God’s loving heart to us.

YOU SHALL BE CALLED “MY DELIGHT”

II DOMINGO DO TEMPO COMUM - John 2:1-11

In the gospel of John, Jesus begins his ministry at the wedding of Cana in Galilee, where he changed water into wine. That was the first great sign Jesus gave, through which he revealed his Messiahship. The wedding was already a sign of God’s covenant and His faithfulness to it. God loves his people with great love, finding his joy in them:

“and as the bridegroom rejoices in his bride,

so will your God rejoice in you.” (Is 62:5).

The wedding of Cana represents the beginning of the new covenant brought about by Jesus. In the episode presented by John, Jesus occupies the central stage. The wedding feast fell short of what was expected on such an occasion The guests felt disappointed, and the groom experienced inadequacy. Indeed, the old covenant, unable to fulfil our deepest desires, did not bring salvation. Mary, Jesus’ mother, represents the poor of Yahweh, who never loses hope in God’s love. She cries out to Jesus, calling his attention to the situation we are in. At Mary’s intervention, Jesus acted promptly, bringing forth the time of salvation.

Whenever we are overburdened by suffering and sorrow, we must look at Mary, and she will call Jesus’ attention to us. Then, he will change the water of our unhappiness into the wine of festivity. Only Jesus can bring consolation and peace.

“No longer are you to be named ‘Forsaken’,

nor your land ‘Abandoned’,

but you shall be called ‘My Delight’

and your land ‘The Wedded’;

for the Lord takes delight in you

and your land will have its wedding.” (Is 62:1-5)

Let us be the delight of the Lord.

 BAPTISED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD - Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Many people became convinced that John the Baptist was the Messiah, but, being an honest and truthful man, he did not waste time in denying such a claim. Indeed, he never tried to present himself as someone he was not. He was a simple voice in the desert calling people to repentance and conversion. He came to prepare the way of the Lord. Thus, he points out the big difference between him and the Messiah. He was “not fit to undo the strap of his sandals” since the Messiah was much greater than he was. Aware of the Messiah’s greatness, John compares his baptism with the one to be bestowed by the Messiah. John baptises with water, while the Messiah will baptise with the Holy Spirit.

There is a huge difference between John’s baptism and the baptism given to us by Jesus Christ. Those who went to John were baptised by him while confessing their sins. They accepted the call for repentance and showed a willingness to convert. The baptism was a sign of their commitment to walk on the straight path of the Lord. In the baptism given to us by Jesus, we were anointed with the Holy Spirit, who recreates us and makes us children of God. By the Holy Spirit, we are made one with Christ, becoming with him children of God.

In Jesus’ baptism, his sonship was revealed when the voice from heaven proclaimed: “You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.” Anointed with Spirit, Jesus was ready to be the Servant of the Lord and carry out his mission for the salvation of the world. Jesus came to baptise us with the Holy Spirit so that the Father’s words are pronounced on each one of us: You are my son. We are God’s beloved children, and we may cry out: “Abba! Father!” (Ro 8:15).

In our baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, the water is a symbol and an instrument of the Holy Spirit, who is the one regenerating us. In Him, we are born from above (again), that is, from God.  As John wrote in his gospel: 

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Jn 1:12-13).

As we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, let us give thanks for our baptism and renew our commitment to be true followers of Jesus Christ.

ALL NATIONS SHALL FALL PROSTRATE BEFORE YOU

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - Matthew 2:1-12

From old times, the solemnity of Epiphany has been considered a great feast, as important as Christmas. The Magi represent the Gentiles who recognise Jesus as the Messiah and Saviour. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells us that the plan of salvation (the mystery) “has now been revealed through the Spirit”. Indeed, the “pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel.” (Ep 3:5-6). The promise made to the people of Israel was intended for all nations of the earth. Today, in this great feast, we celebrate God’s merciful love offered to all of us.

Through the story of the Magi who came from the East, Matthew presents the same truth taught by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. The story of the Magi anticipates what will happen to Jesus when he is rejected and excluded from his people, suffering death on the cross. The early Church will go through the same experience of rejection and exclusion.

The Magi came from the East, the land of the rising sun, following a star that leads to Christ, the true light of the world. Despite the exhaustion of a long journey, they did not give up looking for the Messiah. They were filled with hope, and this hope reassured them in the pursuit of their goal: to find the Saviour that would bring peace to their souls. In their search, they allowed themselves to be guided by the Spirit that led them to Christ. By contrast, Herod, the king of the Jews, filled with jealousy, decided to get rid of the child Jesus. For that purpose, he was joined by the religious leaders of Jerusalem. They live in darkness, with their hearts full of malice. Indeed, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” (Jn 1:11) As a child, with his life in danger, Jesus had to find refuge in Egypt. Later on in life, as an adult, he would be sentenced to death on the cross for a crime that he did not commit. The high priest considered him a false prophet who deserved to die and took him to Pilate, the political authority, with the accusation of high treason. Jesus was rejected by his people and believed by the Gentiles. Walking on Jesus’ steps, the early Church suffered the same fate: rejected by the Jews, it was expelled from the Synagogue. Meanwhile, an increasingly large number of Gentiles entered the community of believers.

Let us join the psalmist in singing:

The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts

  shall pay him tribute.

The kings of Sheba and Seba

  shall bring him gifts.

Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,

  all nations shall serve him. (Psalm 72)

MAY THE PEACE OF CHRIST REIGN IN YOUR HEARTS

THE HOLY FAMILY - Colossians 3:12-21

As we celebrate the Holy Family, we ask God’s blessings to our families, so that they may become a source of blessings to all its members, the community and society.

In the gospel of Luke, we are told that the young Jesus, a boy of twelve, became so enchanted with the temple that he remained behind, mindless of everything else.  This forced Joseph and Mary to go and look for him. We get the impression that they trusted him more than he deserved. Once they found him, Mary complained: “My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.” Jesus’ answer was shocking: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” And they could not understand what he meant. At a very young age, Jesus was well aware of his mission and the purpose of his life. He came to be at the service of the Father, and that must be clear, first of all to Joseph and Mary. Once that is clear, everything else falls into place. And he went with them to Nazareth “and lived under their authority.”

In the second reading, taken from the letter to the Colossians, Paul makes a summary of essential attitudes in a Christian family. First of all, we must be aware that we are loved with great love. God has chosen us and we are his saints. It is this love coming from God that makes a true family possible. This love is expressed in attitudes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Certainly, nobody has achieved perfection in any of these virtues, but they represent the ideal put forward before us. Every day, we must strive to grow in these virtues. Many times, we lag and end up hurting others in the family or community. That’s why Paul advises us to “bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins.” We are constantly in need of reconciliation and for that, we must apologise and ask for forgiveness. All this can only be possible if our hearts are filled with the love that comes from God. And then the peace of Christ will reign in our hearts. “Always be thankful”, for God’s grace and merciful love.

In this feast of the Holy family, let us pray for all families, mainly for those who are passing through difficult times. May God fill them with blessings and bring peace to their hearts.

 I AM COMING TO DO YOUR WILL

IV SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Luke 1:39-45

On this last Sunday of Advent, we are called to look at Mary and learn from her. Informed by the Angel that Elizabeth, her relative, was expecting the birth of a son, she wasted no time “and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah” to rejoice with Elizabeth. Together, they celebrated motherhood as a gift from God. They recognised God’s blessings and thanked him because he looked upon the lowliness of his servants and called them to great things. They shared the good news and the readiness to be at the service of the Lord. “Filled with the Holy Spirit”, Elizabeth was touched by Mary’s blessedness. Being full of grace, Mary is “the most blessed” of all women. She is the mother of the Lord. However, her biological motherhood is not the reason for her blessedness. She is blessed because she believed that the Promise of the Lord will be fulfilled. Like Elizabeth, we must recognise Mary as the Mother of the Lord. She is the most blessed because she is full of grace. With Mary, guided by faith and strengthened by hope, we must learn to put ourselves totally at the service of the Lord.

In her readiness to serve and willingness to obey, Mary shares the same attitude of her son, Jesus, the Son of the living God. The letter to the Hebrews presents the reason for the incarnation: “Here I am! I am coming to obey your will”. The sacrifices offered in the temple were meaningless and a waste of time. They were not the fruit of faith and the proof of obedience. Indeed, they were deceptive, producing a false sense of holiness. The only thing that pleases God is the willingness to listen to his word and obey his commands.

We are called to have Mary as our role model: “I am the handmaid of the Lord: let what you have said be done to me.”

THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY

III SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Philippians 4:4-7

We live in a sorrowful world surrounded by violence and war. The dreams of a just, free and peaceful world have been shattered. We try to survive drowning ourselves in lust for wealth, power and pleasure, living aimless lives that don’t satisfy our hearts. There is so much suffering inflicted by human beings on other human beings. Time and again, we are the worst enemies of ourselves. To affirm our egos, we are ready to destroy the world. Having expelled God from our lives, we turn against each other and do not rest until we create hell on earth. We have become hopeless people and cannot find motives for joy. It was the same in the past. The people of Israel went through troubled times when they lost everything that gave meaning to their lives. They experienced oppression and exploitation. It was as if their lives were full of darkness. God had abandoned them and allowed their darkest desires to take possession of them. However, God never forgets his people despite their betrayals and revolt. In his merciful love, God is always ready to rescue those who are drowning and cry for help. And the Lord comes to our rescue. He commits himself to us. Indeed, with the Lord by our side, we “have no more evil to fear”, since the Lord our God is in our midst.

In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul speaks also of joy and happiness. He wishes for our happiness, and we may be reassured of it because the Lord is very near. “There is no need to worry.” And, if we are in need, we should present our needs to the Lord. He will grant us peace and guard our hearts and our thoughts.

In this third Sunday of Advent, the gospel invites us to look at John the Baptist and listen to him. All kinds of people went to John asking for advice: What must we do?  We must ask the same question and then listen to the answer. To the people in general, John advised them to pay attention to the poor and share with them what they have Then, to the specific groups of tax collectors and soldiers, he gave specific advice. Tax collectors should not extortion money from people, and soldiers should not use violence and oppression.

John was a truthful man who never claimed to be more than what he was. He came to baptise with water to prepare the way for the one who was coming to baptise with the Spirit.

Let us profess our faith with Isaiah saying:

“Truly, God is my salvation,

  I trust, I shall not fear.

For the Lord is my strength, my song,

  he became my saviour.

With joy you will draw water

  from the wells of salvation.” (Is 12)