The Word Alive

First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithi'ah, Shema, Anai'ah, Uri'ah, Hilki'ah, and Ma-asei'ah on his right hand; and Pedai'ah, Mish'a-el, Malchi'jah, Hashum, Hash-bad'danah, Zechari'ah, and Meshul'lam on his left hand.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemi'ah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Psalm: Psalm 19:8-10, 15

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 or 12:12-14, 27

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single organ, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

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

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Reflection
By Pietro S Albano

The Mass is divided into 2 important parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  In the Liturgy of the Word,  the Word of God (as contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible) is proclaimed (First/Second Readings and Gospel), explained (Homily), and given assent to (Profession of Faith).  In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the bread and wine are offered, consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Jesus, and distributed in Holy Communion.

Sunday after Sunday, holyday after holyday, special occasion after special occasion we may have often found ourselves in church gathered with our family and other believers to listen to God's Word proclaimed in the Mass.  Are we as attentive and devout as the Israelites were in the First Reading?  When we are in church, do our celebration give us a sense of belongingness to one body - as envisioned in the Second Reading - even if we don't really know the person sat next to us?

We have often equated our attendance in the Mass as obligation.  Sometimes, this kind of mindset gives us and others (the young especially) the wrong notion of going to church.  Going to church becomes sapilitan (by force).  Instead of obligation, why not see the Mass as an act of love? Isn't it that if you love someone (in this case, Jesus), you would do everything to know more and be with your beloved?  If we foster this kind of thinking, I believe we can become more open to the Holy Spirit who will empower us like Jesus "...to preach good news to the poor...to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord". Eventually, God's Word would no longer be confined in a thick book, but come alive in us!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us the grace we need to humbly receive and ponder Your Word.  Gather us as one body working together to bring Your Word to those in need of its healing and power.  Grant this through Jesus, Your Word-made-Flesh and our Lord. Amen.