3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) – 26th January 2025

Word of God Sunday. 

Word of God Sunday is a celebration that invites Catholics to renew their relationship with the Bible and to listen attentively to the living Word of God that speaks to the Church and the world. It serves as a reminder of the foundational role of Scripture in Christian life and the ongoing relevance of God's message. Although primarily a Catholic observance, its focus on the Bible resonates across the many Christian traditions. Pope Francis’ intention (in introducing this new observance in 2020) was also to foster unity among Christians by promoting a sharing in the respect for the Scriptures and in encouraging participation in a deeper dialogue and reflection on God’s Word across denominations. 

Word of God Sunday is a call to hear God's Word as something living and fresh. The Bible may have been composed in the past, but it continues to speak today. Through it, God speaks directly to the faithful. We are called to allow it to shape our lives.

Quick Glance Summary

• Theme: Jesus proclaims God at work in the world.
• Key Message: God’s word is brought to focus for us: God’s action is proclaimed.
• First Reading (Nehemiah 8:2–6, 8–10): Ezra reads the Law to the people. After their exile in Babylon, they are keen to recover their identity as followers of God’s way.
• Psalm (Psalm 18[19]): God’s law is the source of deep fulfilment in life’s search for a sense of identity and a direction for right living.
• Second Reading (1 Corinthians 12:12–30): St Paul uses the image of the body to encourage collaboration rather than contention. As parts of the Body of Christ, we are all colleagues and co-workers rather than competitors.
• Gospel (Luke 1:1–4; 4:14–21): Jesus proclaims God at work in the world, and especially through him. Using the words of the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus puts the spotlight on the places where God is at work, places where others might consider God absent.

Gospel: Luke 1:1–4; 4:14–21

Liturgical Title: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) – 26th January 2025

"Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached their fulfilment among us, as they were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, I in my turn, after carefully going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write an ordered account for you, Theophilus, so that your Excellency may learn how well-founded the teaching is that you have received.

Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in Him, returned to Galilee; and His reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised Him.

He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as He usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed Him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, He found the place where it is written:

‘The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for He has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.’

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on Him. Then He began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’"

Overview of the Gospel

This Gospel opens with Luke’s prologue, emphasising his intention to provide a reliable account of Christ’s life. The scene then shifts to Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth, beginning his public ministry. He reads from Isaiah, declaring the fulfilment of the prophecy in Himself. The words of the Prophet accurately describe what Jesus will say and do in that ministry. He will bring Good News to the poor, freedom to the oppressed, and healing to the afflicted. It is already happening, he says. 

Connecting the Gospel to Today’s Context

Jesus used the words of Isaiah to outline what drives him. This is his plan for action. This is what his baptism meant for him. This is what the Spirit of God is inspiring in him. This is the focus of God’s energy and God’s love. We see in Jesus the depth of good character. We see in him the pinnacle of human virtue and aspiration. We see someone not motivated by personal gain or profit. This is what it is to live for others. We see in Jesus a purpose and a focus for his life. 

Being baptised means harnessing ourselves (training ourselves, focusing ourselves) to live with the same focus, the same purpose, the same virtue. Being baptised means sharing the same sense of God our Father as Jesus did and expressing this in practical ways: looking out for those who experience poverty in its many different forms; it means taking action to provide practical help to those who are held ‘captive’ literally and metaphorically (by misfortune and suffering); helping people with whatever means necessary so that they can have a ‘second chance’. People already do so much to offer hope and help to others. Jesus deepens our motivation by rooting this action in God’s love for us all. People can yet do so much more at home, in the local area, in the wider world. 

Reflection Questions and Responses

1. Who or what groups might find these readings especially helpful?

• The marginalised and struggling: Jesus’ mission to the poor and oppressed brings hope to those burdened by poverty or injustice.
• People discerning their vocation: The call to proclaim Good News inspires individuals to consider how they can serve Christ through their lives.
• Families in conflict: The message of liberation and healing speaks to those seeking reconciliation and peace.
• Communities of faith: The emphasis on unity and the value of all members in 1 Corinthians encourages communities to work together for the Kingdom of God.

2. What human weaknesses do they address, and what virtues do they aim to strengthen?

• Weaknesses: Selfishness, complacency, and despair. The readings challenge us to confront these tendencies and embrace God’s transformative love.
• Virtues: Hope, compassion, and a sense of justice. They call us to align our lives with Christ’s mission and trust in God’s promises.

3. What is the feeling tone of each reading?

• Nehemiah: Reverent and joyful, as the people rediscover the joy that can come from rooting themselves in a life lived for God.
• Psalm: Reflective and uplifting, celebrating the perfection and wisdom of God’s law.
• 1 Corinthians: Encouraging and unifying, focusing on the importance of every member of the Body of Christ.
• Gospel: Prophetic and hopeful, announcing the fulfilment of God’s promises.

4. Which saints or well-known figures exemplify the message of these readings?

• St Oscar Romero: His advocacy for the poor reflects Christ’s mission in the Gospel.
• St Teresa of Calcutta: Her life of service to the marginalised mirrors Jesus’ proclamation of Good News.
• Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: His dedication to the poor and oppressed embodies the spirit of Isaiah’s prophecy.

5. What works of art, poems, or pieces of music provide insight into the message?

• Art: Fra Angelico’s The Annunciation, symbolising God’s Spirit inspiring action.
• Music: “The Spirit of the Lord” from Elgar’s The Apostles, reflecting the themes of the Gospel.
• Poetry: Gerard Manley Hopkins’ God’s Grandeur, celebrating the unstoppable renewing power of God’s grace.

6. Where has the message of these readings been true in my life or those close to me, and is there a story I can share about that?

• Reflect on personal experiences of seeing Christ’s healing and liberation at work—perhaps through moments of reconciliation, service to the poor, or times when the kindness of another or when the Word of God brought new hope, new clarity and strength. Sharing these stories can illustrate the Gospel’s enduring relevance.