January 24, 2010: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

As Jesus came to the world to do God's will, we also are called to do Jesus's work as a member of his body, the Church.

Jesus 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 the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the section where it is written: “The Spirit of God is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. God 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.”… Jesus said to the people, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21)

We often think of Jesus when we read from the prophet Isaiah. In today’s gospel passage, Jesus speaks of himself when he reads the passage from the prophet Isaiah. Jesus uses the words of Isaiah to describe the work he will do while on earth. It was God’s work he was doing; he came to do God’s will.

During the Liturgy this weekend you will also hear a reading from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians in which he compares the Church, the Body of Christ, to the human body. Just as every part of the human body is important to the body, so, too, is every member of the Body of Christ important to the Church.

Action:

Each of us is unique. Each one of us continues Jesus’ work as a member of his Body, the Church. We each do God’s will by being the best person God has called us to be. If you haven’t made a New Year’s resolution, take some time this week to think about how you can be a better person. Pray to Jesus to help you do whatever it is you have decided to do!