"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me"
In both the Old Testament and Gospel readings for this coming Sunday we have men standing up in order to read Scripture publicly. This simple act, standing before others and reading the Word of God, is one that is filled with power! In the first reading, from the Book of Nehemiah, the priest and scribe Ezra stands before the Jewish people in Jerusalem who have recently returned from the Babylonian Exile. He reads to them from and interprets the Book of the Law, and this event is a powerful moment for the people; they are sorrowful because they recognize that they have sinned against their God!
In the Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus stands up and reads in his local synagogue on a Sabbath Day. He finds a passage from the Prophet Isaiah about bringing good news to the poor, the imprisoned, the disabled, and to the oppressed. And upon finishing, he tells the people, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." They were amazed at his words, and for the moment, were filled with excitement at the reading and the announcement that Jesus has made.
In our day and age, being read to has taken on a different connotation. People often say they find it boring or childish to be read to; for others, audiobooks are the only books they pay attention to; still others are scared senseless at the thought of reading in front of others. And yet, each week, we gather together and listen to the Word of God proclaimed to us by lectors, deacons, and priests. While not all of us may be called to do the reading (St. Paul speaks beautifully about the different gifts and callings of people in the Church in the second reading), we all are given the opportunity to hear, to respond, and to proclaim the Word of God in other ways.
And here is the important part: if we hear and do not respond, are not changed, then we aren't getting it! God speaks to us through his word with great power each and every time we pick up the Scriptures, but especially in the midst of the Mass. Let us pray that, this week, as we listen to his word at Mass, we may have a reaction similar to the people in our readings this Sunday. May our minds be opened; may our hearts be moved; and may our souls be inspired to go forth and proclaim the Good News to all who will listen!
Want to prepare your heart and mind for this Sunday's Mass? Click here to find the readings.