January 24, 2016

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time C Nehemiah 8: 2-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-30; Luke 1: 1-4; 4: 14-21 In talking to people I sometimes find it necessary to give an overall picture of themselves and their relationship with God and God’s relationship with them. They ask: ‘Tell me what it is all about and what is my role or better what is God’s role for me?’ This is an excellent question and it really is what today’s readings are addressing directly. I begin with the reading from the book of Nehemiah. Originally, in ancient times, these historical books of Ezra and Nehemiah were put under the one name — Ezra. Now these two books taken together were the most important literary sourced for the formation of the Jewish religious community after the Babylonian exile. Today’s passage highlights this importance. After the people returned from the exile the key question they faced was how could they avoid ever being exiled again. The answer is given them today. Ezra and Nehemiah were two leaders who were appointed by God to guide the people in all the problems and challenges they had in rebuilding their homeland. Today’s passage begins with the details in the dramatic reading of the Law of Moses. This was their foundation. Even though Ezra and Nehemiah were in charge of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem, this could never be the answer if the people didn’t have God’s law totally in their hearts. Which leads to an interesting question for each of us: Am I living by God’s law or what I want to do? Do I even know what God’s law is? Jesus took all the laws, and the 10 Commandments and reduced them to the essential law of love, the greatest commandment found in Luke 10:28—when a learned scholar asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks what is written in the law, and how do you read it. He responded with “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength,and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” So do I have this law totally in my heart? The people are all gathered in an open place in Jerusalem to hear the solemn presentation of the Law. When Ezra opens the scroll, the people show their deep respect by rising to their feet and responding “Amen”…so it is… so be it. They have heard God’s love for them and are moved to tears, they knew all too well that they had to remain loyal to God’s law, this hadn’t been done under Moses. Now the bond has been renewed. God’s law is in their hearts….is God’s law in my heart? This is the bottom line…this is what is important; now what is my role in this? Paul responds to this in his writing to the Corinthians. Paul tells his listeners that all belong to Christ. God created us out of love, continues to love us and needs us to love so that ALL can see God’s love and realize that by loving this we live and fulfill God’s plan for all to be in heaven. So Paul used the expression ‘the body of Christ’ which means that each of us is in Christ and is dependent upon Christ and subject to His rule. Paul continues by showing that in the Church, like the human body, each person has their own function. He points out there are apostles, prophets and teachers, this was how the church in Corinth was shaped and there are many other gifts given by God that help to shape the community in God’s mold of love. As a body has many members, yet is one body, so also is Christ. There are different functions but each are important for the one body. It is in Baptism that all are united to Christ and to one another by the Holy Spirit. To be healthy members of Christ, of the Church, all must work together. So is it about me or is it about God? The Church then presents Luke’s gospel in two parts: the first is the prologue where Luke says, “I am writing down in an orderly sequence …so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.” What is it all about? Why did Jesus come? What did He tell us will happen and how important that each of us….in our own way….with our own gifts…are a part of God’s plan of sharing God’s love? And the second part of the reading shows Jesus beginning His ministry in the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth by quoting the prophecy of Isaiah 61: 1-2, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Then Jesus added, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” He is telling His listeners and each of us what He would be doing for the rest of His ministry. This is His inaugural speech. He is the Messiah and the Messianic age has begun. The remainder of the Gospel of Luke unfolds Jesus’ mission who is God’s anointed prophet. So am I listening to Jesus? Do I take the teachings that I like or do I realize His mission is my mission? There is no way that Jesus’ sees the role of messiah as a one-person job! God is Love and needs you and me to be love. So the Kingdom of God lies in the future. God needs me in this time, in this place to use the gifts I have been blessed with coupled totally with God’s help to tell people, show people that love is the answer. Today is the day. Do I see God in new ways? Do I realize that whatever gifts and graces I possess can work great and wondrous things when done in the Spirit of God? Why else would I be given what I have? It’s not about my being famous or honored or adored; it’s about God’s love catching fire in our hearts and in the hearts of those who see in me the importance and need I have to be Jesus’ love to those in my life. Alice Camille in Exploring the Sunday Readings asks us to reflect on: • “DOES THE NEWS SOUND GOOD TO YOU? • Does the realization that God is my God and lord of my life seem important to me? • Today is holy. Today we can make a new decision. What can you do to make today worthwhile? • Identify the part you play in the local Body of Christ. What roles might be missing, and how would you go about advertising for them? • Think of an aspect of your life that needs liberation. If you got it, what would you do with it? • Luke’s gospel challenges our own images of God: He reveals in Jesus a God of compassion and mercy. Am I compassionate? Am I merciful? • He reveals in Jesus a God who seeks reconciliation with us always. Do I seek reconciliation? Do I forgive? Do I pray for those who are giving me the hardest time? Do I care about them or am I concerned with getting even? • He shows us a Jesus a God who makes His presence known to us in every act of kindness and healing we experience. Do I do the same? Sacred Space 2016 says: “I must take personally what God says here: ‘You are the one I choose today to bring good news to the poor and oppressed. The Holy Spirit is upon you. I am sending you’! Jesus saw these statements as giving Him His identity. Do they give me mine? Holy Spirit of God, you are the living force in the words of the gospel we proclaim You are the wind on which the message about Jesus is borne to others. Our agenda is to proclaim You. This is worth all the trouble this life can bring.”