Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

1. Proclaiming Liberty to Captives

2. Many Members, One Body

 

Greeting (See Second Reading)

We, though we are many,
are one body in Christ
and we have all been given the same Spirit.
May the Lord Jesus be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

 

Introduction by the Celebrant

1. Proclaiming Liberty to Captives

In church we often hear the words “salvation” or “redemption.” These technical words sound difficult and remote. Jesus, whose name means “God saves,” tells us today what this “saving” means: He came to bring us freedom, liberation, from all that alienates us from God and people and to make us capable of liberating one another. Indeed we are created and born to be free. That is the Good News he brings us. Let Jesus here among us make us free sons and daughters of God.

 

2. Many Members, One Body

We know that it is not easy to bring together in one community people of different backgrounds, different talents, each with one’s own brand of selfishness too. But what is impossible for us to do, God tries to do with us in Christ. In him God calls us together from our diversity and division caused by the alienation of sin. Through baptism we have become one body, one family, one community in Christ. Each has to contribute one’s share, different from that of anyone else for the benefit of all and yet can remain true to oneself. Each of us becomes an irreplaceable part on which the whole body depends. In this unity in diversity let us praise the Father and eat the body of Christ that we may become more his body of the Church.

 

Penitential Act

We are far from free, for we are captives of sin.
Let us ask the Lord to set us free.
                        (pause)
Lord Jesus, give us the freedom
promised to those captives in sin:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

 

Jesus Christ, make us join you
in proclaiming your Good News to the poor:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, make us capable
of setting the downtrodden free:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Lord, in your kindness
liberate us from all sin,
that we may be free and alive and fully human.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

 

Opening Prayer

1. Proclaiming Liberty to Captives

Let us pray
that we may accept and live
God’s Good News today
                        (pause)
God our Father,
through Jesus you speak to us today
your message of Good News.
May we accept today
the year of grace he proclaims.
Give us your Holy Spirit today
to enlighten us and to make us free
for you and for people.
And with his help may we bring your Good News
to the poor and to those in prison,
to the blind and the downtrodden,
that all may enjoy your happiness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

2. Many Members, One Body

Let us pray that we may truly be
the body of Christ
                        (pause)

God our Father,
you sent your Son among us
to bring together the poor and the weak
with the strong and the healthy
into the one body of Jesus Christ.
Let your Spirit bind us together
in one community of faith, hope and love.
Let him enrich us with the variety of his gifts
that each in one’s own place and identity
may be responsible for the others
and that together we may be
the one visible body of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

First Reading: The People Were Moved by God’s Word

God’s people was gathered as one by and for the word of God. God’s message upset them; yet they rejoiced in the Lord.

Reading 1: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

 

Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak till midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll
so that all the people might see it
— for he was standing higher up than any of the people —;
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
“Amen, amen!”
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
“Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep”—
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”

 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15  

(cf John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

Second Reading: Each Has a Role in the One Body

 Through baptism, we have become constituent parts of the one body of Christ. Each part has to contribute toward the good of the whole.

Reading 2: 1 Cor 12:12-30

 

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Now the body is not a single part, but many.
If a foot should say,
“Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body, “
it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
Or if an ear should say,
“Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body, “

it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?
If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
But as it is, God placed the parts,
each one of them, in the body as he intended.
If they were all one part, where would the body be?
But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you, “
nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.”
Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker
are all the more necessary,
and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable
we surround with greater honor,
and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety,
whereas our more presentable parts do not need this.
But God has so constructed the body
as to give greater honor to a part that is without it,
so that there may be no division in the body,
but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it;
if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the church
to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

 

Or: 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,

and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Now the body is not a single part, but many.
You are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.

 

Alleluia: Cf. Lk 4:18

Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel: Today the Good News Is Fulfilled

To the people in the synagogue Jesus presents his liberating program of salvation. In Jesus, the Good News of God’s word is fulfilled.

Gospel: Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

 

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events
that have been fulfilled among us,
just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning
and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
I too have decided,
after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings
you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

 

Intercessions

1. Proclaiming Liberty to Captives

            Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, who has spoken to each and all of us here. Let us ask him that his word may come to life in our hearts and in our deeds. Let us say: R/ Speak, Lord, we listen.

–          Lord, give courage to our leaders and to all teachers in the Church, that they may help us to understand your word and proclaim it as Good News to all. And so we say: R/ Speak, Lord, we listen.

–          Lord, unite in your word and your person all who call themselves Christians. Bring them together as brothers and sisters into your one body. And so we pray: R/ Speak, Lord, we listen.

–          Lord, inspire by your word all the mighty of this earth. Help them to join forces to bring lasting peace, food and human dignity to all. And so we pray: R/ Speak, Lord, we listen.

–          Lord, open our eyes to the miseries of people; make us concerned about those imprisoned in their fears and in the grip of injustice. Make us lights to those in the dark. And so we pray: R/ Speak, Lord, we listen.

–          Lord, make us receptive to your word. Free us from banality and fear, from our self-security and certainties. Give us new insight in your message, that we may live as we believe. And so we pray: R/ Speak, Lord, we listen.

Lord, we are gathered in your name. Be alive among us here, listen to our prayers and speak your forceful word in our lives, for you are or Lord for ever.  R/ Amen.

 

2. Many Members, One Body

            Realizing how much we are often divided and need to be one as Christ’s community, let us insistently pray to God our Father that he may bring us together in Christ. Let us say: R/ Our God, make us one in your Son.

–          Father, you know how much the Church is polarized. Some resist all change of renewal, others impatiently run after every novelty. Let no one run too far ahead, let no one lag behind; help us grow together in Christ, we pray you: R/ Our God, make us one in your Son.

–          Father, we suffer because Christianity is divided. Many Churches claim your Son as their Savior. Keep us from distrust and competition, make us respect each other’s richness, and bring us together in your Son, we pray you: R/ Our God, make us one in your Son.

–          Father, in our world there are rifts between the poor and the rich nations, between ideologies and power blocks. Make us reach out for peace and friendship beyond boundaries and barriers, we pray you: R/ Our God, make us one in your Son.

–          Father, you know how many homes are broken, how there is often a gap between old and young. Let the older generation guide the young toward responsible freedom and let the young respect the ways of their parents, we pray you: R/ Our God, make us one in your Son.

            God our Father, let our communities grow in your love in mutual respect, in acceptance of one another, in justice and fairness to all. This is our trusting prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

Prayer over the Gifts

God our Father,
with bread and wine and words of praise
we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ,
your Word spoken here in our midst.
Let his word change our gifts
into his own flesh and blood.
By the power of his Spirit,
let also our hollow words
become flesh and blood
of goodness and service
to people around us and to you,
our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.

 

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

With grateful hearts, we praise God our Father for letting his Son Jesus speak his Good News to us and staying with us in everyday life.

 

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

Let Jesus fill our groping words
with the power of his own words,
as we pray to our Father in heaven: R/ Our Father…

 

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord, from words
that do not convey the truth
or that do not commit us to what we say.
Set us free from all sin
and help us to live the Good News of your Son,
as we pray and work in hope and joy
for the full coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom…

 

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus, God’s living Word,

who expressed himself in what he said

and lived as he spoke.

Happy are we to receive him

that we may live according to his words. R/ Lord, I am not worthy…

 

Prayer after Communion

You have spoken your Word, Lord,
and it became flesh here in our midst.
You have strengthened us
with his word and his body.
Could we ask you anything better
than to let our lives become
the Good News of his message
to whomever we meet?
Set us all free with the freedom
brought us by Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord for ever. R/ Amen.

 

Blessing

The message of our Lord Jesus Christ
will be Good News to us only if we are aware
of our own poverty and emptiness.
And we will make it Good News of hope and joy
to all those around us
only if the Spirit of truth speaks in our words
and if then we commit ourselves to what we say.
May God give you this courage and bless you:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

 

Go in peace
and live by the word of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.

 

Commentary

The “is-ness” of the Kingdom

Read:

Ezra proclaims the Law before the entire people, so that they understand, accept, and fulfil the Law in the days to come. But Jesus stands up and proclaims that even as they listen, at that very moment, the prophetic words are being realized. We have all been made integral members of the Body of Christ.

Reflect:

In Christ, the Law has taken flesh and lived among us. The Kingdom of God is not a distant reality yet to happen. It already is, right among us. “The time has come” (Mark 1:15), announces Jesus. The Spirit of the Lord is here; not will be here. The Lord is (and not will be) my light and salvation, as we have responded to the Responsorial Psalm. So is the good news, liberty, new sight, freedom, and mercy: They are all realities like the air we breathe. It surrounds us. We only need to inhale it in. Once we do so as a community, the “Body of Christ” becomes a lived experience. [For Jesus ending the reading at “mercy,” see the reflection on January 6.]

Pray:

Pray for the Church and her mission for the people on the margins.

Act:

Write out a Mission Statement (at the service of the Kingdom) for yourself.

Reflection taken from Bible Diary 2022;

written by Fr.Paulson Velyannoor, CMF