Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Word of God Sunday
It is a pity that the gospel chosen for today does not include the reaction of the Nazareth people as well, to coincide neatly with the first reading’s people, whose reaction is highly emotional. First a weeping with joyful tears of gratitude, coupled with their spontaneous rising to their feet when Ezra opened the scroll to read from the law, and then their “Amen and Amen!” and their prostration in worship of the God whose word they just heard. Then the command of Ezra to go and celebrate with festive food and sweet wine, and that they should not forget the poor in the festivities.
Actually, the response of the Nazareth people was also emotional. They marvelled at the way he explained the word he just read to them. With such authority. He is the fulfillment of that word from Isaiah the prophet, he told them. Their reply: but this is the carpenter’s boy! Where does he get the authority to speak like this? It can’t be! As in, who does he think he is? He is one of us. Just the other day we played hide and seek and other games together and now, who does he think he is?
They could not know that it was the Word of God in the flesh who spoke to them. That’s why it’s so contrasting with the first reading’s people. In our know-it-all judgment, we ask how they could have missed it, the Word standing right in front of them.
How often do we miss Jesus who comes to us in the living sacraments of the Church and in the Word proclaimed at each of those sacraments and in the living words and actions of good people? He is truly here. But it passes us by, every time.
For “who does this priest think he is to talk to us like this,” and “who is So-and-so to always enjoy Father’s attention and favour like that,” and “what on earth is she wearing again today?” and “he is not Catholic, what does he know about the real presence?” and “they are not even churchgoing people,” and on and on. Too much human stuff distracting us every time. “This passage from Scripture has been fulfilled today in your hearing.”
Maybe that’s why we do it again and again, the service of the Word in Holy Mass and the other sacraments, so that one or two of us will maybe listen and believe and know in our heart of hearts, “It is the Lord.” And go and celebrate it, not forgetting the poor.
Maybe that’s why the pope declared today the Sunday of the Word of God, so that perhaps one or two of us will hear and will want to make this word, Holy Scriptures, the Bible part of our daily coming and going and know, “His name will be Emmanuel, which means, God with us.” Here with us, day in and day out.
Listen! God is speaking to me, to you.