Homily for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Theme: “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME”
By: Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu
Homily for Sunday January 23 2022
This is the 3rd Sunday in ordinary time. It is also known as “Sunday of the Word of God.” It was instituted by pope Francis in 2019. The word of God should be listened to by all and sundry. The long time the people of Israel spent in Babylonian captivity made them to loose connection with their faith in God. When they returned to their own land as survivors from exile, they began to settle and to reconstruct the city Jerusalem. Ezra the priest assembled all the people together and read God’s law to them. The people listened attentively to what he proclaimed to them. They shouted Amen! and bowed down to respect God (Neh. 8:2-6. 8-10). This shows that, “Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life” (Ps 19:8ff).
This gathering of the people of Israel is the same as our community gathering in the church on Sundays. The law of the Lord read by Ezra made much impact on the people. They bowed down to show respect to what was proclaimed to them by the priest Ezra. In the same way, when we gather in the church today, we must pay attention to the word of God proclaimed to us from the pulpit. This is important because, “faith comes through hearing.” The word of God is meant to gladden our minds and to set us free. This was why Ezra told the people to rejoice for that day is holy for the Lord. When we come together to hear the word of God we should be happy. This happiness makes us one body in Christ, even though we are many we are one with Christ who calls us to himself (1Cor. 12 :12-30).
Luke puts these teaching together and gives account of the life of Christ while on earth. He passed on the word to the apostles who also handed it on to the church today. Jesus, the anointed one entered the synagogue on a sabbath and opened the scroll and read: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me, to preach the good news to the poor…” (Lk. 1:1-4ff). As we mark the Word of God this Sunday, may our lives be guided by the Holy Spirit to practice what we hear amen. Happy Sunday.
Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu