Third Sunday of the Year: C: January 23, 2022

 FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISES OF GOD IN JESUS

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

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-30

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

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Nehemiah.  The happenings after the return of the Jews from their exile in Babylon is narrated. The nation had to be rebuilt. Ezra the priest took the task of re-establishing the Jewish religion. He read the book of the law of Moses to the people. Then he made them to renew the Covenant with the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. Paul explains to the community in Corinth how the human body is united and functions as a single unit. Though the human body is made of many parts, all of them work together for the benefit of the whole body. The Apostle affirms that so it is with the Church. Though it is composed of many members coming from various cultures, different backgrounds and are empowered with various gifts, they all form a unity in Christ Jesus. He stresses how each one of us must co-operate with others for each one is a necessary member of the Body of Christ Jesus. 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me                                                                        Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. It has two parts. In the first part Luke gives a description about how and why he undertook the task of writing an account of the life and teachings of Jesus. In the second part we have a description about the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. Jesus began His public ministry in the synagogue at Nazareth. There He opened the book of the Prophet Isaiah and read the passage relating to His future ministry: to preach the good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed. Jesus then went on to announce that this prophecy of Isaiah was being fulfilled on that very day. Thus in the Gospel we have an announcement that God's promises are fulfilled in Jesus His beloved Son. The long awaited Messiah, the anointed one has come. That Jesus is in fact the one promised by God. This message of the Gospel first preached in Galilee has to find its fulfillment in and through us. Hence we need to do the following: 1. We need to acknowledge that God's power is necessary for accomplishing the mission of Jesus. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and preached the good news and liberated people from the bondage of sin. 2. At baptism we too received the Holy Spirit. Again at confirmation we were anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God constantly empowers us to continue the mission of Jesus. Thus Lord Jesus invites each one of us to grow in faith and become effective witnesses of His good news.