Reflection on the Readings for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time: January 26, 2025
As we gather to celebrate the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time on January 26, 2025, we are invited to reflect on the significance of the Word of God in our lives. This Sunday also marks the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God, instituted by Pope Francis to emphasize the importance of Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church and the faithful.
First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
In the first reading, we hear about Ezra the priest bringing the law before the assembly of men, women, and children old enough to understand. Standing on a wooden platform, Ezra reads from the book of the law of God from daybreak till midday, and the people listen attentively. As Ezra opens the scroll, the people rise, bless the Lord, and prostrate themselves before Him. This passage highlights the reverence and respect the people had for the Word of God and the transformative power of hearing and understanding it.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15
The responsorial psalm reminds us that the words of the Lord are spirit and life. The psalmist praises the law of the Lord as perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, pure, and true. These attributes of God's Word refresh the soul, give wisdom, rejoice the heart, enlighten the eye, endure forever, and are just. The psalmist's reflection encourages us to find strength and guidance in the Word of God.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30
In the second reading, St. Paul uses the analogy of the body to describe the unity and diversity of the Church. He emphasizes that, just as the body has many parts but is one, so too is the Church. Each member of the Church has a unique role and function, and all are essential for the proper functioning of the body. This passage calls us to recognize and appreciate the diversity of gifts within the Church and to work together in unity for the common good.
Gospel Reading: Luke 4:14-21
The Gospel reading recounts the story of Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth. Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, proclaiming that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him and that He has been anointed to bring glad tidings to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. Jesus then declares that this Scripture passage is fulfilled in their hearing. This powerful moment marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and underscores His mission to bring hope, healing, and liberation.
Sunday of the Word of God
The Sunday of the Word of God, celebrated on the third Sunday of Ordinary Time, was instituted by Pope Francis in 2019 to highlight the importance of Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church. This year's theme, "I hope in Your Word," taken from Psalm 119:74, invites us to deepen our relationship with the Word of God and to find hope and strength in it.
Pope Francis will preside at Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, where he will distribute copies of the Gospel of Luke to attendees and confer the ministry of Lector upon 40 lay faithful from various nations. This celebration serves as a reminder of the centrality of the Word of God in our faith and encourages us to engage with Scripture in our daily lives.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the readings for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time and celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God, let us be inspired by the transformative power of God's Word. May we, like the people in the time of Ezra, listen attentively and allow the Word of God to shape our lives. Let us also recognize the diversity of gifts within the Church and work together in unity, following the example of Jesus, who brings hope, healing, and liberation to all.
: [USCCB](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012625.cfm)
: [The Best Catholic](https://www.thebestcatholic.com/2025/01/25/mass-readings-for-january-26-2025-sunday-third-week-in-ordinary-time/)
: [Catholic Leaf](https://www.catholicleaf.com/mass-readings-and-reflection-jan-26-2025/)
: [Herald Malaysia](https://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/pope-to-celebrate-mass-on-sunday-of-word-of-god/80429/1)
: [Vatican News](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-01/pope-francis-mass-sunday-word-god-hope-jubilee.html)
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