Dear brothers and sisters in
Christ, today is called The Sunday of the Word of God, a celebration
initiated by Pope Francis through the Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis,
issued on September 30, 2019, on the feast of St. Jerome, who gave us the gift
of the Bible in Latin, the Vulgate. You might wonder, why dedicate a special
Sunday to the Word of God when Scripture is proclaimed at every Mass, week
after week? Pope Francis designated the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as
a special day to celebrate, reflect on, and promote
the Word of God in the life of the Church.
This
reminder feels especially timely as we live in a world marked by profound challenges and
uncertainties. Sickness, the loss of loved ones, unemployment, natural
disasters, wars, and broken relationships, etc.; all these are not just distant
headlines but experiences that touch our own lives. In the face of such
struggles, many are left questioning: Where can we find hope? How do we make
sense of life’s storms?
The
answer lies in the very Word we celebrate today. Both the readings from
Nehemiah and Luke invite us to rediscover the Word of God as a source of
unshakable hope. It is not a superficial optimism but a deep trust in God’s
promises, which have the power to pierce through even the darkest nights. Just
as the Israelites in Nehemiah’s time found strength in hearing and rejoicing in
the Word, and as Luke reassures us of the fulfillment of God’s promises in
Jesus, we too are called to anchor our lives in this hope that never fails.
The Word of God Speaks
to Our Brokenness (Nehemiah 8:2-10)
The people in Nehemiah’s
time were no strangers to hardship. They had endured exile, separation from
their homeland, and the disintegration of their identity as God’s people. When
they returned to Jerusalem, they found a city in ruins and a daunting task
ahead of them.
Yet, in the midst of
this chaos, God’s Word was proclaimed, and something remarkable happened. The
people wept, not just out of sorrow for their sins but out of a deep
realization that God had not abandoned them. Ezra reminded them: “Do not
grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
For us today, this same
Word speaks to our brokenness. It reminds us that no matter how shattered our
lives may feel, God’s promises remain. When we feel abandoned, His Word assures
us: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). When we
feel defeated, His Word declares: “In all these things, we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
The Word of God Brings
Good News in Jesus Christ (Luke 4:14-21)
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus
stands in the synagogue and reads from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty
to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed.”
Then He announces: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus’ words are not
just a promise, they are a declaration that God’s kingdom has broken into our
world. Through Him, the sick find healing, the mourning find comfort, and the
hopeless find purpose.
This message is more
relevant than ever. In a world where sickness seems relentless, Jesus is the
Healer. To those who have lost loved ones, He says: “Blessed are those who
mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). To those struggling with
unemployment or financial instability, He reminds us: “Do not worry about
tomorrow… Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33-34).
The Word of God Calls Us
to Be Bearers of Hope
Brothers and sisters,
the Word of God is not just a comfort, it is a call to action. We are not only
recipients of God’s hope but also its bearers in a world desperate for good
news.
Think about the
challenges around us: conflicts that divide families and nations, natural
disasters that devastate entire communities, loneliness and mental health
struggles that plague so many. In the face of these, we are called to embody
the hope of Christ.
How? By being
instruments of peace in our communities. By reaching out to those in need with
practical acts of love. By sharing the Word of God with those who feel
forgotten. Like Jesus, we are anointed to proclaim good news to the poor,
freedom to the captives, and healing to the brokenhearted.
Hope That Transforms
Dear friends, the Word
of God is more than a collection of stories or ancient laws, it is living and
active, capable of transforming our lives and our world. When life feels overwhelming,
let us turn to this Word as our source of hope.
And as we hear God’s
Word today, let us allow it to sink deeply into our hearts, so that like the
people in Nehemiah’s time, we may rise with renewed strength. Let us hear the
voice of Jesus declaring, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your
hearing.”
May the Word of God
empower us to face the challenges of our time with courage, to embrace the hope
that Christ offers, and to share that hope with a world that so desperately
needs it.
Amen.🙏🙏🙏
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