Platform of Jesus-Isaiah 61:1-2

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time-Year C

Year of Faith

January 27, 2013

Readings:

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

Responsorial Psalm: 19:8, 9, 10, 15

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30

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

There is a need to return to the origin of our faith in Jesus Christ, and in God the almighty Father.  We have to go back to the source of our belief – the Bible or Scripture and the Tradition/Law we received from the fathers of the faith, to which it will bring us closer to our focal point, to the well-spring of our spiritual renewal and the miracles of our hearts – to God.

In the Book of Nehemiah, when Nehemiah, the cup-bearer of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, (445/444 BC), heard that Jerusalem and the Temple – the center of their religion and identity, were destroyed, he was very sad; and the king saw how sad he was.  Then the king was given him permission to go back to Judah, in Jerusalem and allowed him to rebuild the city of his ancestors and the Temple.  Also, upon Nehemiah’s requests, he was given letters whom he asked from the king for safety passage to the governors of Transeuphrates (most probably Sanballat the Horonite governor of Samaria, Tobiah the Ammonite slave, and Geshem the Arab) and for the supply of timbers from king’s park keeper, Asaph.  All this was given to Nehemiah, the Builder, aside from making him governor of Judah.  We saw also how the Jewish people volunteered to work as one man or nation and rebuilt the city and the Temple.  In the morning, they were working, non-stopped, and in the evening they were watching from any invaders.  Nevertheless, there were lots of interruptions employed by the governors of Transeuphrates-Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem; but never Nehemiah and the rest of the tribes of Judah stopped or intimidated or went down on the top of their workings and be subjugated.  For, there is only one focus they have in mind and that is to finish the Temple of the Lord so that they can worship Him and granted to them His forgiveness for their offenses they had done.  In the twelfth year, Nehemiah’s mission, that is to rebuild the city and the Temple of Jerusalem, were finished.. 

Afterwards, Nehemiah called for Ezra, the priest and scribe.  And, together with thirteen other priests or Levites, six on his right and seven on his left, they led the people, (men, women and children old enough to understand), in reading the Book of the Law.  Ezra and the other men interchanged in reading the Law and interpreting it, from early morning until noon, standing on the wooden platform erected for that purpose.  The people, as one man or nation, after listening attentively, made them realized their sins were all in tears and begged for the forgiveness of their sins. The people also were consoled and told to rejoice. “This day is sacred to Yahweh, your God” (see First Reading).

Parallel to the Book of Nehemiah, is the Gospel According to St. Luke, when Jesus came back to Nazareth, and went to the synagogue as he usually did.  This day, he was the reader, and “they handed to him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah” (Lk. 4:16-17), and he read Isaiah chapter 61, verses 1-2.  These passages are full of hopes, dreams and aspirations of people who are in desperate need of a good leader anointed by God.  For centuries, after the fall and restoration and fall again of Jerusalem up to their time, they did not see any good leader or builder who will restore their life, their city, their religion, their Temple; but rather, they found misery and disbelief to their leaders who were supposed to bring them back to God.  And Jesus, with the power of the Holy Spirit, said to those present in the synagogue: “This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen” (Lk.4:21).

 From then on, this text became the platform of Jesus.  He brought good news to all places he visited.  He performed miracles of healing, restoration of life, forgiveness of sins, and returning of good relationships between God and to His people, and people to their neighbors.  He also commanded and spoke with authority and power.   Truly, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled through Jesus. 

“The spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore he has anointed me.  He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord”  (Isaiah 61:1-2; cf. Luke 4:18-19).

St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians is also full of encouragement and cooperation and unity.  He was telling the Christians at Corinth to be one in everything, for there is one body, the Church and Jesus, the Head of the body, though there are many different parts.  The body, though is composed of many parts, is working as one whole body.  Nobody is neglected. Everybody is important.  No one can deny the other.  Every part is vital to make the body whole and complete.

If Nehemiah is acting and working alone by himself, without the help of the rest of the Jewish people and the king of Persia, he cannot accomplish his mission or rebuilding the city of his ancestors and the Temple in Jerusalem.  Also, if Jesus is working alone, without the power of the Holy Spirit sent by the Lord God, he cannot perform his platform.  And, also if the Christian community in Corinth and Paul did not act as one body, but working different functions by different parts separately, the Church in Corinth would not be able to bring together all its members to Christ’s body.

The same with us today, the new people of God, the new disciples and/or followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, if we will not act as one body, but separately and differently and on its own, without unity and cooperation, and no one or many good leaders to lead and teach and admonish, etc. the other Christian members, sooner or later we will also collapse and fall like the Temple in Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah and Ezra.  Yet still God remain faithful to us and firm and strong in His love for us until the end time.    For our guiding principles, we can follow what the psalmist clearly stated: “The Law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.  The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of Lord is clear, enlightening the eye” (Psalm 19:8-9).  Therefore, we should constantly remind one another of our functions and responsibilities and duties united in the One Body (Temple or Spirit, of the Law) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Question(s) for Reflection:

1. Are you acting on your own, or are you guided by the power of the  Holy Spirit and supported by your brothers and sisters in Christ?

2.  Do you recognize your importance as member of the Body of Christ?

3.  Do you recognize the importance of your leaders and do you support them to reach their goal, vision and mission for the common good?

4.  Do you bring good news and actions to the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized and the excluded?

5.  How is your faith in God, the Builder of your Temple – your body and life?