THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C
23rd January 2022
Nehemiah 8:2-6,8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21.
In the second part of today’s gospel, Jesus announces the mission statement of his public ministry. He claimed to be the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah that said; The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. The truth of this claim is found in his life and ministry. He was sent by the father to establish the kingdom of God on earth. A kingdom of love, justice and peace. The summary of the economy of salvation is summed up in the mission statement.
The second reading gives a dimension to the mission statement when it referred to us as the body of Jesus Christ. It read: Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. The church is the body while Jesus Christ is her head. The work of salvation continues in the world. As the body of Jesus Christ, the church continues in the spirit of the mission statement of Jesus Christ her head. It is through the church that the good news will be brought to the poor. It is through our fight for justice that liberty will be given to captives. Our charitable works will alleviate poverty. Our justice will set the downtrodden free. Our love will give new sight to the blind. Our joy will announce the Lord’s year of favour. It is the activities of the church that will fulfil the mission statement of Jesus Christ.
Today’s gospel is a wakeup call, a reminder of our Christian responsibility to our world. This based on the understanding that every good thing we do has an eternal value. Each time we will to do good, we participate in the mission statement of Jesus. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Fr Anthony Ekpunobi, CM.