Sunday Scripture Readings

Submitted on May 24, 2007

Send to friendTHIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, JANUARY 25 Nehemiah 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21 OUR GOOD NEWS: The power of God’s Word — proclaimed to all peoples, God’s Word gathers the Church community, summoning and empowering us to new life in Christ. Today’s first reading explained how Israel’s prophets had proclaimed destruction of the nation and exile for its citizens unless the people turned from their sins to obey God’s law. When repentance was not forthcoming, the community which had abandoned God experienced the bitter price of being abandoned by Him. The prophets however also had announced the divine intention to preserve a remnant, bringing some back from foreign exile and slavery to reconstitute his Chosen People on the same land once given to their ancestors. "Many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events which have been fulfilled in our midst ..." These opening verses from Luke are unique among the four Gospels. They constitute a formal preface to the author’s two-volume work (Luke and Acts), after the practice of ancient Greek historians. To be sure, Luke wrote in the Old Testament tradition, but he acknowledged the larger Greco-Roman world by imitating contemporary style. We are intrigued about the "many" who had already written "an orderly account of the events come to fulfillment among us" — that is, about Jesus and the earliest Church. The author identified himself as a third-generation Christian who had researched earlier (second-generation) writers, themselves dependent upon original, first-generation "eyewitnesses." Nonetheless, Luke himself claimed to be a contemporary witness of some of the events described in Acts — see the "we-sections" narrating parts of Paul’s journeys. Four reasons are given why Luke-Acts is superior to previous writings. The whole sequence of events (completeness) has been carefully traced (accuracy) from "the beginnings" (thoroughness), and then written up "in order" (systematically). This last refers to Luke’s three-part division of salvation history: the period of Israel (concluding with John the Baptist), the period of Jesus’ public life; and finally the period of the Church. "I have decided to set (this Gospel) in writing for you, Theophilus." Like other literary works of those times, Luke’s was dedicated to a personage of social standing and affluence. "Theophilus" was probably a catechumen whose initial instruction in the faith would hereby render him more acceptable. The second period in salvation history began with the appearance of Jesus, "armed with the power of the (same) Spirit" who would later serve as guide during the (third) period of the Church. His subsequent mission would be to authentic Israel ("the poor," "captives," "blind," "prisoners.") These categories refer to the faithful remnant who humbly looked to God as their only source of help, rather than to human resources. Jesus’ ministry would be further validated by His service of healing and liberation of the afflicted, who are the special concern of God and of His Messiah. The long-awaited jubilee "year of favor" has at last arrived!