Archive for January 22, 2022

3rd Sunday In Ordinary Time

Posted: January 22, 2022 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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New Day Dawns: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Readings:

Nehemiah 8:2–6, 10

Psalms 19:8–10, 15

1 Corinthians 12:12–30

Luke 1:1–4, 4:14–21

The meaning of today’s liturgy is subtle and many-layered.

We need background to understand what’s happening in today’s First Reading.

Babylon having been defeated, King Cyrus of Persia decreed that the exiled Jews could return home to Jerusalem. They rebuilt their ruined temple (see Ezra 6:15–17) and under Nehemiah finished rebuilding the city walls (see Nehemiah 6:15).

The stage was set for the renewal of the covenant and the re-establishment of the Law of Moses as the people’s rule of life. That’s what’s going on in today’s First Reading, as Ezra reads and interprets (see Nehemiah 8:8) the Law and the people respond with a great “Amen!”

Israel, as we sing in today’s Psalm, is rededicating itself to God and His Law. The scene seems like the Isaiah prophecy that Jesus reads from in today’s Gospel.

Read all of Isaiah 61. The “glad tidings” Isaiah brings include these promises: the liberation of prisoners (61:1); the rebuilding of Jerusalem, or Zion (61:3–4; see also Isaiah 60:10); the restoration of Israel as a kingdom of priests (61:6; Exodus 19:6); and the forging of an everlasting covenant (61:8; Isaiah 55:3). It sounds a lot like the First Reading.

Jesus, in turn, declares that Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in Him. The Gospel scene, too, recalls the First Reading. Like Ezra, Jesus stands before the people, is handed a scroll, unrolls it, then reads and interprets it (compare Luke 4:16–17, 21 and Nehemiah 8:2–6, 8–10).

We witness in today’s Liturgy the creation of a new people of God. Ezra started reading at dawn of the first day of the Jewish new year (see Leviticus 23:24). Jesus also proclaims a “sabbath,” a great year of Jubilee, a deliverance from slavery to sin, a release from the debts we owe to God (see Leviticus 25:10).

The people greeted Ezra “as one man.” And, as today’s Epistle teaches, in the Spirit the new people of God—the Church—is made “one body” with Him.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: January 22, 2022 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Those who are far from the Lord or do not have the relationship that we have with Him will find it hard to understand why we would spend so much time either doing His Will for us by serving or constantly talking about Him and the wondrous deeds He has done in our lives.

I remember when I fell in love with Jesus by following after Him, my wife chided, “We use to talk about movies, travels, music anything and everything. Now it’s Jesus this and Jesus that, enough already.” “Also don’t you think you are spending too much time on church activities??!!” “Are you out of your mind?” She could not understand because at the time she was far from Jesus. She knew about Him but did share an intimate relationship with Him.

Fast forward about 11 years she was an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion for a while but is now serves as a Lector, secretary for the Ex-Co Committee in our Parish, Chair of Events Keystone and helps with the Catholic Prayer Group for working adults! Now she fully understands what it means to love and serve Him with all our strength, heart and mind!

Jesus the only thing I mourn are my many sins committed against You both of omission and commission. Keep my conscience and my heart tender for I long to grow in purity and love. Let Your Will be done in me now and forevermore. Amen

First reading

2 Samuel 1:1-4,11-12,17,19,23-27

David’s lament over Saul and Jonathan

David returned from his rout of the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. On the third day a man came from the camp where Saul had been, his garments torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did homage. ‘Where do you come from?’ David asked him. ‘I have escaped from the Israelite camp’ he said. David said to him, ‘What happened? Tell me.’ He replied, ‘The people have fled from the battlefield and many of them have fallen. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.’

    Then David took hold of his garments and tore them, and all the men with him did the same. They mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, for the people of the Lord and for the House of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

    Then David made this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan.

Alas, the glory of Israel has been slain on your heights!

How did the heroes fall?

Saul and Jonathan, loved and lovely,

neither in life, nor in death, were divided.

Swifter than eagles were they,

stronger were they than lions.

O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul

who clothed you in scarlet and fine linen,

who set brooches of gold

on your garments.

How did the heroes fall

in the thick of the battle?

O Jonathan, in your death I am stricken,

I am desolate for you, Jonathan my brother.

Very dear to me you were,

your love to me more wonderful

than the love of a woman.

How did the heroes fall

and the battle armour fail?

Gospel

Mark 3:20-21

Jesus’ relatives were convinced he was out of his mind

Jesus went home, and once more such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind.