Third Sunday in Ordinary Time / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
The Book of Nehemiah furnishes the first reading for Mass this weekend. At one time in the Hebrew editions of the Bible, this book and the Book of Ezra formed one volume. In time, they were separated and so they remain today.
Although some Old Testament books tell the history of the people of Israel, all are chiefly concerned with inspiring God’s people to be faithful and eager in their religious practice. In this reading, Ezra, who was a priest, called together men, women and children old enough to comprehend precisely to this end. He admonished this gathering to listen carefully to the Scripture.
After hearing the reading of the Scriptures, the people in this audience affirmed their faith. Ezra continued by interpreting what he had read.
Finally, Ezra and Nehemiah called the people to rejoice—for cause. God had spoken to them. God was guiding them.
For the next reading, a passage from St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians is offered. The Christian community in Corinth especially challenged Paul. Corinth was an important commercial center, one of the major markets and distribution centers in the Roman empire. Moreover, it was a very large city.
Paul wasn’t troubled because Corinth was large and rich. Instead, he saw that its size and wealth produced a cultural atmosphere in which vice and greed reigned supreme. Indeed, Corinthians had the reputation of being exceedingly licentious even in the Mediterranean world of the time in which license and exploitation were commonplace. The evils in this atmosphere were contagious, enticing many Christians.
In addition, Corinthian Christians vied with each other within the Church. They quarreled with each other. They schemed against each other. They gossiped about each other. They toyed with pagan practices and customs.
Paul constantly and energetically called the Corinthian Christians away from the temptations the pagan environment pressed upon them. In particular, he scorned the competitiveness among the Christians.
In this reading, Paul insists that all the baptized are in the mystical body of Christ; however, the body has many members. Each has a particular and needed role to play in the life of the Church.
Finally, St. Luke’s Gospel supplies the last reading. The text includes the addressing of a person named Theophilus, who is given the honorific title “your excellency” (Lk 1:3). Luke’s Gospel seemingly was written for this person.
Scholars have put forth many theories about who Theophilus may have been and how this name, which means “friend of God,” may have come to be given to this person. In any case, the person apparently enjoyed some prestige, hence the use of the words “your excellency.”
In this reading, Jesus appears in the synagogue of Nazareth to explain the mission of salvation. Salvation, unfolding in Jesus, was the gift of God’s love, the final chapter in the long record of the merciful deeds of God among God’s people.
Reflection
The Church celebrated Christmas, the feast of the birth of Jesus, as well as the feasts of the Epiphany of the Lord and of the Baptism of the Lord. In the lessons of these great liturgical events, the Church introduced us to Jesus. It identified him. He is the son of Mary, so Jesus was a human. He also is the Son of God. He is the Redeemer.
Now the Church begins to tell us about salvation and about how we personally should respond to salvation.
Paul sets the stage in First Corinthians. If we have accepted Christ into our hearts, we belong to God. Each of us has a personal vocation, although we may consider this term too lofty or too suggestive of a religious life. Regardless of occupation or circumstance, our individual vocation is to follow and reflect Christ.
God provides for us in this effort. He assists and strengthens us. He never forsakes us. Still, we are free and must decide to be loyal to God. †