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

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15

1 Corinthians 12:12-30

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

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events

that have been fulfilled among us,

just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning

and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,

I too have decided,

after investigating everything accurately anew,

to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,

most excellent Theophilus,

so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings

you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,

and news of him spread throughout the whole region.

He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom

into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them,

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have not given up on humanity. What Adam and Eve lost for us in the Garden, you have given in a superior fashion through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me, during this Jubilee Year, to enjoy forgiveness, true freedom, love in my family, and the fullness of life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Inaugurating the Great Jubilee: The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time has been set aside as a Sunday devoted to the celebration of the Word of God (Pope Francis, Apperuit illis, n. 3). Every Sunday this year, which has been declared a Year of Jubilee, we will be reading from the Gospel according to Luke. Luke’s Gospel begins Jesus’ public ministry with Jesus interpreting the Word of God in the synagogue at Nazareth. The Gospel closes with Jesus, on the day of his resurrection, interpreting the Word of God on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). In the synagogue today, Jesus proclaims that he is the Anointed One, the divine Melchizedek figure, who inaugurates the Great Jubilee. He proclaims liberty and announces the year of the Lord’s favor. He promises to release the people from the debt of all their sins. He promises to deliver them from slavery to the power of the devil. He promises to atone for the people’s sins (see Bergsma, Jesus and the Jubilee, 75-77).

2. Nehemiah and Ezra: In the First Reading, we hear how the people of Israel marked the return to their homeland after the Babylonian exile by publicly reading the Book of the Law, most likely the Book of Deuteronomy. They had been scattered in exile, but now were gathered as one around the Word of God (Nehemiah 8:1). By listening to the Word of God with “attentive ears” (Nehemiah 8:3), they discovered the meaning of their experience of exile and return. They realized that their sin and idolatry triggered the curse of exile, that they had been punished for their sins, but that God remained faithful and bestowed his mercy upon them. One of the reasons for the 70 years of exile in Babylon was that Israel had not been observing the Sabbath years of rest (every 7 years) and the Jubilee years (every 50 years) during their 500 years in the promised land (see 2 Chronicles 36:20-21). God promised, however, that when the 70 years were completed in Babylon, he would visit his people, fulfill his promise, and bring the people back to the Promised Land (see Jeremiah 29:10).

3. One Body with Many Parts: In the Second Reading, Paul proclaims the mystery of the unity and diversity of the Church: We are many diverse parts that form one body. The Church of Christ is one and undivided, but this unity does not mean uniformity. Paul speaks about different ministries within the Church. Some, like the bishops, are designated as Apostles in the Church. Some exercise the ministry of prophet, when they proclaim the Word of God. Some are teachers in the Church. Some perform mighty deeds, some have gifts of healing, some are capable administrators. There is a great variety of spiritualities, charisms, and ministries within the Church. The saints of the Church show us that each one of us, with our unique personalities, are capable of holiness with God’s saving grace.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I am humbled to know that I form part of your mystical body, the Church. Guide me as I make important choices today. Help me to discern your Father’s will and be an instrument for what is good, righteous, and holy.

Living the Word of God: How have I lived this first month of the Jubilee Year 2025? Was I even aware of the Jubilee and what it means? How can I welcome God’s mercy, forgiveness, and freedom more fully this year?