THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

The scriptures for today focus our attention on the importance and power of the Word of God and its challenge for us today. One Sunday, a man asked: “What is the importance of the Bible in the life of a Catholic?” It was a great question. You may have numerous answers. However, Psalms Chapter 119: verses 105 offers the best answer for us: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path”.

In today’s gospel, Luke presents Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth. It is the hometown of Jesus. There, Jesus makes a solemn declaration of his mission in the world. We can call it the Jesus Manifesto. People who initiate a revolution usually start off with a declaration of their manifesto. Karl Mark started by publishing the Communist Manifesto. Martin Luther started off with the publication of the 95 theses in Wittenberg. Jesus has come to start a revolution of mercy and love in the world. And here in today's Gospel reading, he publishes the Christian manifesto:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. (4:18-19)
To the great amazement and disbelief of his own townsmen, Jesus declared that Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled in him at that very moment and his mission would be to give liberation to everyone who would listen to his “good news,” and accept it. Scripture helped Jesus to identify His mission.
Words reveal what is in one’s heart. The Word of God reveals God’s heart. In Jesus, the Word of God became Flesh. St. John’s chapter one says, in the beginning the word already existed, the word was with God and the word was God .The word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. So Jesus was the living word of God. He became the heart of God; the message of God. At the age of 12, Jesus said: “I must be about my Father’s business”. In the desert Jesus said: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God”. On another occasion Jesus said to his disciples: “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work” (Jn 4:34). At Gethsemane Jesus said: “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). And finally, on the cross He said: “Father into your hands, I commend my spirit”. (Lk23:46). Jesus started his life taking the job of doing His Father’s business and He faithfully completed it on the cross. Jesus, not only turned to the Scripture for guidance, but also became Scripture, the Word of God itself. Hence Jesus said: Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; the Father and I are one” (Jn10/30, 14/9).Since the Word of God is incarnated in Jesus, He became the True Way to Life.

The Word of God is like the Lighthouse! The role of a light house is to show the correct way for someone lost in the sea during night. The Bible does the same to a lost soul. It removes the darkness. The first word uttered by God was: Let there be light. And the light removed the darkness. And Jesus is the light that removes the dark and shows the right way to life. He says, He is the way, the truth and the life . That’s what Peter said to Jesus, Lord where shall we go? You have the words of eternal life! (Jn: 6:66, 20:31). Human doctors and medicines are the solution for physical sickness, but Jesus and his words are the answer and solutions for spiritual sickness. The Bible has the answer to all our problems.


The letter to the Hebrew chapter four says, the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrew 4:12) According to Isaiah, the word of God is just as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seeds to him who sows and bread to him who eats so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it (Is 55:10).

Friends, the Word of God transformed the life of many. St. Paul discovered his mission when he was confronted with the Words of Jesus (Acts 9:3ff). For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? This word from Mark’s gospel chapter 8: 36 changed the life of Francis Xavier. Francis of Assisi, Francis De Sales, Ignatius Loyola, Vincent De Paul, Mother Theresa, Gandhi and many others talk volume about the life transforming influence of the Word of God in their lives. They became the living Gospels!
Dear friends, if they can live like a living gospels, why can’t we? Living the gospels is a process of listening, meditating, assimilating and delivering. This is what Blessed Mary did. She listened to the Word of God, pondered over it, made it part of her being and delivered it to the world in the form of Jesus.
How do I and you approach the Word of God? How much hours we spent in front of our TV, watching different channels? Why can’t give five minutes to read Bible everyday with all the members of the family? That will make wonders in our life.