From Conviction to Action: Embracing Christ’s Call

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 26, 2025

Readings: Nehemiah 8:2–6, 10; Psalms 19:8–10, 15; 1 Corinthians 12:12–30; Luke 1:1–4, 4:14–21

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/0ze4KJPtGf8

What would be our life if we did not live with convictions, values, norms or systems that determine a particular way of being in this world? We are judged by who we are, what we speak and the way we act. This determines our life, our present and our future. Our social upbringing and pedagogical training that we receive in schools and colleges decide the kind of world that we want to create. Jesus begins his public ministry from his experiences as a practicing Jew. His upbringing makes him what really he is and is meant to be. He takes up the role of Messiah bringing salvation to those who need it and are ready to listen. The liturgical readings on this Sunday invite us to be part of Jesus' mission of bringing goodness to all the people of goodwill.

1. The Call to Trust in God’s Word

The passages from Luke’s Gospel invite us into a profound contemplation of God’s promise fulfilled through Jesus Christ. In Luke 1:1–4, the evangelist carefully sets the stage, emphasizing the reliability of his account and his intention to provide an orderly narrative of the life and ministry of Jesus. It is addressed to Theophilus, whose name means "lover of God," an earnest inquirer about Jesus

St Luke's dedication of this Gospel to Theophilus invites each of us, as lovers of God, to embrace the Gospel as a message meant personally for us. Luke emphasizes that his Gospel is based on eyewitness accounts and thorough investigation. This inspires us to trust in the truth of God’s Word.  God’s Word, like Luke’s Gospel, is not distant or abstract—it is rooted in real events, real people, and a real Savior. It is Jesus Christ. In our own lives too, we are called to seek God with the same diligence, exploring how His Word is unfolding in our daily experiences.

2. The Mission of Jesus and Our Role

In Luke 4:14–21, Jesus enters the synagogue in Nazareth, reads from the scroll of Isaiah, and declares, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” This is a bold moment. Jesus declares His mission in the synagogue, proclaiming the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. He reveals Himself as the anointed one sent to bring good news to the poor, freedom to captives, sight to the blind, and liberation to the oppressed. This passage is more than an announcement; it is a call to action. As disciples of Christ, we are invited to continue His mission. Each of us is anointed through baptism to be bearers of good news in our world.

Jesus knew where he would start. He knew his hour had come to begin his public ministry. He had settled once and for all the method he was going to take. He knew God's timing. He begins his ministry in Galilee a land known for extraordinary fertility. The wonderful climate and the superb water supply made it the garden of Palestine. Jesus begins his work in his own land. Here he gets his first audience who would listen and kindle at his message. Where do we want to start our mission? 

3. Being embraced by God

Jesus begins his ministry in the synagogue. The synagogue was the real centre of religious life in Palestine. There was only one Temple, but the law said that wherever there were ten Jewish families there must be a synagogue. It united people and gave them inspiration in their daily lives.  He had come like a breath of the very wind of God. 

St Paul writing to the Corinthian community invites them to rally behind the person of Jesus. While giving us the analogy of our human body, Paul asks us to be part of the life of God. So that we may fulfil the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is God who is the source and summit of our lives. Therefore, we must listen to him and act accordingly. It is about recognizing God’s presence and power at work in the here and now. Christ’s mission is not a historical moment confined to the past but a living reality and we are invited to participate today.

Questions for self-reflection

1. Where do I see God at work in my life, family or community today? How can I become more aware of His presence and respond to His call?
2.  Do I recognize the Spirit working in my life? How can I share the good news with those in need around me?
3. Do I trust in the reliability of God’s promises? How can I become a witness to God’s truth in my own life?

Prayer

Loving God, You have given us Your Word as a light for our path and a guide for our lives. Help us to trust in the truth of Your promises and to live boldly as witnesses to Your love. May the Spirit that anointed Christ anoint us to bring good news to the world, freeing those bound by despair and bringing hope to the poor and the brokenhearted. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord,.Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

24 January 2025