3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

January 25, 2004

Third Sunday (C)—-January 25, 2004

Nehemiah and Ezra were two major reconstructionists of the Israelite people after the Babylonian exile. Nehemiah was governor, the political leader; Ezra, a descendent of Aaron and a priest, was responsible for the restoration of spiritual life.

In today’s first reading we find Ezra gathering the nation to hear the Law and to renew the Sinai covenant. But the returned exiles hear more than a reading. They hear a reaffirmation of their summons to be God’s people and a call to live out of their chosen-ness.

We, who are used to 40-50 minute liturgies, would be very uncomfortable spending 5-6 hours listening and absorbing the word of God. We live in a different culture and have different means of communication today, but do we hear God’s word effectively?

Another point of amazement is in the response of the people. They are weeping; perhaps, because they recognize the gap between what they are hearing and their own behavior. They bowed their heads and prostrated themselves to the ground in contrition. And Ezra said to them: Weep no more, celebrate. Eat and drink and share with those who have not for this is the day of the Lord.

In his Letter to the Corinthians, Paul continues the theme he began last week, reminding us that we have been favored by God with many gifts, intended not just for our own individual benefit, but for the good of the whole community.

Paul uses the metaphor of the human body, stressing how all parts must co-operate with one another, because we are one in the Spirit. Paul makes his metaphor reality by saying we are the Body of Christ.

In the gospel, Jesus, returning to Nazareth by way of Cana, reads from the scroll at a Sabbath vigil. He reads from the book of Isaiah, the section called Consolations.

Jesus makes it clear that his life work is to be marked by bringing good news and comfort to the poor, proclaiming liberty to all who are in bondage; giving sight to those who are blind, physically or otherwise, and bestowing God’s favor upon all people who are open to receive it.

If Jesus had recognized and acknowledged that desire, but had not shown us how to realize it, his life and ministry would have been the cruelest form of false advertising. His gospel would have been anything but good news. But Jesus did show us how to realize it. His life was a model of good life and living.

Unfortunately no matter how well someone strives to teach a new attitude, they ultimately meet resistance. Jesus finds this intimidation among his own family and neighbors forcing him to leave Nazareth.

The message of Jesus, alien to the Nazarenes, might be even more alien to our world today. The peace of the original creation has been ruptured. There is tremendous pain that is in need of healing. Sin has weakened our relationship with the Creator.

The result of sin is fear and death. The trouble is not so much that there is something wrong with this world, but there is something wrong with us.

Jesus did not come to put things right in the world. He came to put things right in us, to put us right in our relationship with God and one another. Jesus came to heal the body of Christ.

Whenever we use our talents and creativity and gifts to comfort the poor, release and recognize the dignity of captives, open the eyes of the blind, free the oppressed and extend the favor of God to others, than we begin to live to the full the good news as Jesus modeled it.

Our society might squirm at the thought of such radical reconstruction; but at least each individual can look for a recreation of his/her own attitudes. We must not make the mistake of sitting idle, waiting for some marvelous word or action, like another transformation of water into wine. Jesus did that once to inaugurate the kingdom.

Do not expect instant solutions or a remarkable show of power. That is not the way Jesus saves. He saves through us.

Our sins, our problems, our relationships with those from whom we are alienated will not be solved with easy solutions. God can help us only if we let Him, if we listen to Him every day in scripture and in prayer.

We, too, can be anointed with that same Spirit that Jesus was. We, too, can be just as effective if we strive to live the good news and not just listen to it.