3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C
Readings: Neh. 8:2-4a,5-6,8-10; 1Cor. 12:12-30, and Lk. 1:1-4, 14-21.
“A Genuine Celebration of the Word of God.”
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
1. In September 2019, Pope Francis declared that “the third Sunday in OT is to be devoted to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God… for we urgently need to grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures and the risen Lord, who continues to speak his word and to break bread in the community of believers.” As a guide for our steps in every aspect of our lives, God has given us a book, the greatest book ever written, the Bible, the Word of God. In it, we have the details of all we need to know and do to be happy, peaceful, joyful, grateful, hardworking, prayerful etc. w
When it is neglected, we are blind to things of God, our hearts are blind to the prompting of the Holy Spirit; we do not see ourselves as God wants us to see ourselves and as God sees us; we do not see people around us the way God wants us to see them, with understanding and compassion. We may not even see Jesus, God as he truly is. Little wonder St. Jerome had declared: “Ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
2. When we neglect this book, we see ourselves often as captives – captives of our bad habits, our fears, our guilt etc. Are we ready to receive the freedom given to each one of us in the person of Jesus? We can only do so if we do celebrate the Word properly. In it we know Jesus and we discern God’s will for us. When we neglect the Word of God, we are downtrodden, yes, often we will be discouraged, our hope and faith will be shaken with the least trial.
3. To fittingly understand our first reading today, we must note that it was already 100 years since the return from Exile, from the Babylonian Captivity, and they hadn’t succeeded yet in organizing their life well. There is still a lot of confusion: everyone doing what s/he wanted, there was lot of stealing and violence; the poor continued to be exploited shamelessly by the powerful and the rich. The King of Persia sends Ezra to Jerusalem, to find a solution to the chaotic situation they were in. Ezra was a priest-scribe, a student of matters pertaining to Yahweh. He noted that the cause of evil was failure to keep the law – it was the root of all evil. He equally noted that this failure to keep the Lord’s Commandments and precepts was not out of wickedness, but out of ignorance; they just do not know them anymore. What was he to do?
4. On the new year day, he brought the book of the Law before the assembly consisting of men, women, and children who had reached the age of reasoning, and he read the Word of the Lord to them at the square of the Water Gate. (8:1-3). It is worthwhile taking note on how he organized this celebration of the Word, there is much to learn from him.
a) Having gathered the people, he read from the book of the Laws “from dawn till noon.” (2-3). Nobody remains at home or seeks excuses to stay away to look after his or her affairs. Our Sunday celebrations last only a few minutes after an hour, yet what do we get?
- Some people stay away for idle reasons, forgetting that the first task of every baptized person is to nourish his/her faith together with the members of his/her community and hear the Word of God at solemnities and feasts.
- Many of us who come keep looking at our watches time and again, feeling that the preaching has been too long or that the singing is boring. We forget that Ezra read the book of the Law, the first five books of the Bible from dawn to noon with everyone present.
- We have so much forgotten that Sunday is the day of the Lord, meant to be kept holy, sacred, in worship and praise of God. The time we spend in the Lord’s presence is worth it. We need to be focused on him.
b) Ezra Organized the Meeting Place Well: he was anxious that all details be planned for, even if they seem of little importance. He prepared a wooden dais for a reader to stand on. The animators of the Word in our communities must take care of these exterior aspects:
- This pulpit is elevated. This is meant to attract listeners.
- The readers of the Word must be prepared; we must have capable and well-prepared readers.
- The Church must be attractive and conducive as our Churches are.
c) See the Solemnity with Which the Rite Began: Ezra standing higher than everyone else, opens the book with devotion and all the people stand up to show their veneration for the sacred text. Ezra proclaims the blessings, and all people answered “Amen, Amen” and all bow down and prostrate themselves. (6-7). This teaches us something of reverence:
- Our body language should show that we are eager to hear the Word and that we have respect for the Word being proclaimed to us.
- Silence, standing erect are good but to move around or talking to somebody or sitting down when the gospel is read except for health reasons are unacceptable.
- Active listening to the readings and to the preacher is strongly recommended.
d) The homily of Ezra obtained good results: having listened to Ezra, the people examined themselves thoroughly and realize that they had not kept the Law of God and indicated their willingness to repent. If in our community nothing ever changes, nobody feels the urge to repent; that in our families, churches, society, communities, institutions etc. nothing changes, as a results the gospel message that is proclaimed and preached to us, this is a sign that preachers need to reconsider how they explain the Word of God to the people or people should reconsider if they ever listen to their preachers attentively with the readiness to grow in the ways of the Lord. One thing I know is that an unprepared sermon should never be preached. As the rain and the snows come down and cannot return without making the soil wet and grass to grow so is the Word of God and the preaching of it. Lastly,
e) The day of meeting to listen to the Word of God is a Feast. That God continues to speak to his people must be a source of great joy and this is manifested with songs, dances (and a great abundance of food and drink). We are told that Ezra urged the people not to weep but to sing for joy, having known what the Lord expects from them. Dear people of God, read the Scriptures at a regular basis, make it available to your children and grandchildren. Be open to allow the Scriptures to challenge you; to help you to grow in love of God and neighbor. God’s words are life. May he grant us the grace. To God be the glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.
Fr. Anthony D. Lawir,
Pastor, St. Agnes and Our Lady of the Snows Parishes, Pittsfield and Dexter.