Sunday of the
Word of God
Readings: Neh 8,2-4. 5-6. 8-10 Ps 19 1Cor 12:12-30 Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Key Verse to Meditate: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your
hearing" (Lk 4:21).
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is also known as the “Sunday of the Word of God,” instituted by Pope Francis on January 26, 2020. This Sunday is dedicated to celebrating, studying, and disseminating the Word of God. On this special occasion, the Liturgy of the Word presents to us the Nazareth proclamation of Jesus Christ, wherein He publicly declared, "The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor." Today’s Gospel recounts the dramatic beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After His desert experience, He returned to His hometown of Nazareth. Initially, His preaching was well-received, but He later encountered resistance from His own people. In the First Reading, the prophet Nehemiah reassures the saddened Israelites with the profound words: "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh 8:10). The Second Reading, from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, reflects the theme of Christian unity during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18–25). St. Paul reminds us that although we are many members, we form one single body in Christ (1 Cor 12:12).
The First Reading: A Call to Reverence and Renewal
Today’s First Reading, taken from the Book of Nehemiah, vividly
captures the spirit of the “Sunday of the Word of God.” The reading touches the
heart, prompting us to reflect on our attitude toward God’s Word. The
Israelites, hearing the Word of God read by Ezra, realized that their exile and
suffering were consequences of their disobedience to Yahweh and His covenant.
As Ezra read from the Book of the Law, the people listened
attentively. Moved by the words, they wept in repentance. When Ezra opened the
book, the entire assembly stood in reverence (Neh 8:5), and their response,
“Amen, Amen,” lifted with hands raised in worship, demonstrated their
willingness to be transformed by the Word of God. The Levites helped interpret
the Scriptures, and this deeper understanding filled their hearts with life and
meaning (Neh 8:8).
When the Word of God is heard with faith and humility, it moves
hearts and transforms lives. It brings joy to the broken-hearted and strength
to the weary. Ezra reminded the people to celebrate, saying: “Go, eat rich
food, drink sweet beverages, and share with those who have nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength” (Neh 8:10).
This passage teaches us that the Word of God is not merely a call
to repentance but a source of strength and joy. It invites us to celebrate
God’s presence in our lives through worship, fellowship, and acts of charity.
A Call to Embrace the Word of God
The opening verse of the Gospel of St. John offers a breathtaking
glimpse into the richness of the Word of God: “In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). This eternal Word,
as St. John further proclaims, “became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).
These profound truths call us to deepen our relationship with Christ in our
daily lives. St. Jerome reminds us poignantly, “Ignorance of Scripture is
ignorance of Christ.”
Jesus Himself underscored the necessity of knowing the Scriptures
when He rebuked the Sadducees, saying, “You know neither the Scriptures nor the
power of God” (Mk 12:24). Similarly, Pope St. Gregory the Great urged us to
“know the heart of God through the Word of God.” Indeed, fervently listening to
the Word is essential for a personal encounter with the Divine because no one
can fully fathom the depths of God’s Word.
During His time of temptation, Jesus demonstrated the sustaining
power of Scripture, declaring, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every
word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut 8:3/Mt 4:4). We, too, are
called to integrate the Word of God into our daily lives. Without this
integration, our spiritual vitality fades, leaving us as lifeless as the dry
bones described in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek 37).
The Word of God invites us to continual conversion. It is no wonder
that the people in the Gospels pressed forward to hear Jesus preach, drawn by
His life-giving message. As we listen to the Word and celebrate the Eucharist,
we renew our dedication to the divine will, echoing Christ’s profound moments
of prayer with the Father (Lk 6:12).
The Virgin Mary serves as our model in listening to the Word of God
with faith and openness. Her humble response, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the
Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38), inspires us to follow
her example. We ask our Blessed Mother to lead us closer to Christ, helping us
to listen, understand, and respond to Him with our whole hearts.
For us, as disciples of the Lord, the Word of God, when listened to
with faith, becomes a source of spiritual life, nourishment for prayer, and a
light to discern God’s will in the events of life. Jesus is not merely the
content of Scripture but its very heart and fulfilment. In the Emmaus event, He
revealed Himself to the disciples by uncovering the meaning of the Scriptures,
transforming their hearts and renewing their faith.
May we, too, encounter the living Word in the Scriptures, allowing
it to transform our lives, guide our paths, and bring us into deeper communion
with Christ.
The Second Reading: Unity in Diversity
During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan 18-25), we have
reflected deeply, praying for unity among Christian Churches. Continuing along
this line of reflection, the Second Reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the
Corinthians reminds us that the Eucharist and the Word unite us as members of
one body in Christ. St. Paul writes: “For just as the body is one and has many
members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is
with Christ” (1 Cor 12:12). He further affirms: “You are the body of Christ,
and individually members of it” (1 Cor 12:27). As members of the same body, we
should develop a greater sense of respect and appreciation for our brothers and
sisters, regardless of their family or Church affiliation.
As members of the Church, we are also called to use our diverse
gifts to serve the one body of Christ. Each charism or gift of the Spirit is
unique and must be recognized as such, for all of them are gifts of the Spirit:
“And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third
teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations,
various kinds of tongues” (1 Cor 12:28). St. Paul also warns us that there
should be no division in the body, but that all members should have the same
care for one another (1 Cor 12:25).
This unity must begin in our families and extend to our parishes,
fostering harmony and collaboration.
The Gospel Reading: The Spirit and the Mission of Christ
In today’s Gospel, Luke presents the Nazareth proclamation as a
programmatic text for Jesus’ mission. After His baptism and the Spirit-led
journey into the wilderness, Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the power
of the Holy Spirit (Lk 4:14). On the Sabbath, He stood in the synagogue and
read from the scroll of Isaiah, declaring:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to
bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim
the year of the Lord’s favor” (Lk 4:18–19).
This proclamation highlights the centrality of the Spirit in Jesus’
life and mission. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, we see the Spirit guiding and
empowering Jesus: from His baptism (Lk 3:22) to His ministry of preaching and
healing (Lk 4:14).
The Synagogue of Nazareth
This reflection on the Synagogue of Nazareth provides a deep
theological and scriptural understanding of Jesus' proclamation and mission.
Although the synagogue is mentioned here for the first time, Luke
indicates that Jesus was a regular visitor to the synagogue (cf. Lk 4:16, 31;
6:1-2, 5-7, 9; 13:10, 14-16; 14:1, 3, 5; 23:54-56; Acts 13:14f). Upon arriving
in the town of Nazareth, Jesus went to the synagogue and stood up to read the
Scriptures. Typically, the prayer in the synagogue included the recitation of
the Shema (Deut 6:4-9), followed by common prayers such as the Tephillah (a
Hebrew word for prayer that also implies contemplation) and the Eighteen
Benedictions. After this, the Scripture readings were conducted—first from the
Torah, then from the Prophets-followed by an instruction in which the speaker
connected the texts with one another (cf. Acts 13:15).
The Symbols of Spiritual Salvation
Jesus was given the scroll of Isaiah and selected a passage from
Isaiah 61:1-2. This passage lists the symbols of spiritual salvation: "The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to
the poor (cf. Lk 4:18; 7:22; 6:20). He has sent me to proclaim release to the
captives and recovery of sight to the blind (Lk 7:21-22; 18:35; Is 42:7), to
let the oppressed go free (cf. Lev 25 and Deut 15:2), to proclaim the year of
the Lord's favor" (Lk 4:18-19).
Jesus, who proclaims good news to the poor, also proclaims the year
of the Lord’s favor. This alludes to the Jubilee Year in the Old Testament,
during which debts were cancelled, and slaves were freed (Lev 25:8-17). This
passage demonstrates that the Spirit's activity in Jesus is integral to His
birth, identity, and mission as the Son of God. It cannot be confined solely to
His proclamation in Nazareth.
Anointed to Preach the Gospel to the Poor
In Isaiah 61, the prophet is anointed and sent to proclaim good
news. In the New Testament, however, Jesus is anointed specifically to preach
good news to the poor (Lk 8:1), a significant theological theme in Luke’s
Gospel: "He has sent away the rich empty-handed" (Lk 1:53).
Who are the poor referenced in this "Nazareth manifesto"?
This manifesto is neither political nor economic but expresses a profound
social concern of Jesus—an invitation to become spiritually sensitive to the
plight of the poor. Jesus’s mission is directed toward these humble individuals
who respond to God’s message.
St. Paul echoes this sentiment in 1 Corinthians: "God has
chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and the weak things
of the world to shame the strong" (1 Cor 1:27). The poor, referred to as
the "Anawim of Yahweh" in the Old Testament (2 Sam 22:28; Ps 14:6; Is
3:14-15), are the hope-filled people who rely on God in their need. Jesus not
only brought light to those in the darkness of sin and sickness (cf. Lk
1:78-79) but also befriended sinners and tax collectors (Mt 11:19; Lk 7:34).
Release from Sin and the Clutches of
Satan
The preaching of Jesus accomplished three significant objectives:
1) Healing the sick and broken-hearted (Lk 4:40-42; 6:17-19; Acts
2:22; 10:38).
2). Announcing the release of prisoner.
3). Restoring sight to the blind (Lk 18:35-43; Acts 9:18-19).
In Luke’s narrative, restoring sight serves as both a physical
healing and a metaphor for receiving revelation and salvation (Lk 1:78-79;
2:93:6). Jesus’ presence brought divine power to challenge and defeat sin,
evil, pain, and sickness (Lk 5:31-32).
Luke-Acts translates “release” as forgiveness. Jesus, entrusted
with the mission of release, is the Messiah who grants unconditional
forgiveness and restores the lost to God’s family (Lk 5:27-32; 7:36-50).
Examples of Sabbath healings demonstrate this mission (Lk 6:6-11; 13:10-16). As
Messiah, Jesus not only freed people from demonic possessions (Lk 9:39; Lk
11:14-23) but, above all, liberated them from the effects of sin by offering
unconditional forgiveness and reconciling them with God (Lk 19:1-10).
Today the Scripture is Fulfilled
After reading the Scripture, Jesus declared, "Today, this
scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Lk 4:21). This statement
signified that the prophecy was realized with His presence among them. Jesus
fulfilled all prophetic teaching and stood in their midst as the embodiment of
God’s promise (Lk 24:44). Jesus, the fulfilment of all prophecies, brought hope to the poor
and announced liberation to captives. His message of healing, mercy, and
salvation remains a beacon of hope for humanity. In this Jubilee Year, we are
invited to look to Christ and respond to His message of love and renewal.
Points for Personal Reflection
Today, as we celebrate the “Sunday of the Word of God,” we are
invited to renew our commitment to honouring, understanding, and embodying the
sacred Scriptures in our daily lives. The Word of God is not merely a text to
be read but a living voice that calls us to repentance, strengthens us with
joy, unites us in Christ, and commissions us to proclaim the Good News to the
world.
Like the Israelites who listened to God’s Word with open hearts and
reverent minds, let us allow the Scriptures to shape our lives, transform our
hearts, and guide our actions. When we root ourselves in God’s Word, we
discover a profound source of joy and strength to face life’s challenges.
Indeed, as Nehemiah reminds us, “The joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh
8:10).
As we go forth to proclaim the Good News, may we be inspired by the
words of St. Paul himself: “Woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!” (1 Cor
9:16). May the zeal of St. Paul ignite our hearts to share the light of Christ
with all creation. Like Paul, may we proclaim with courage and conviction: “I
have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me” (Gal 2:20).
May this celebration inspire us to draw closer to the Word of God,
allowing it to illuminate our paths, renew our spirits, and empower us to share
its light and hope with all we encounter.
How do we listen to God’s Word during Sunday liturgy?
Do we listen attentively to Christ and the ministers explaining the
Word of God, as the people did in Nehemiah's time or in the synagogue at
Nazareth?
Is the joy of the Lord my strength? Do I find hope in the presence
of Jesus and His Spirit in my life?
