Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 7:10-18
Mass: Ne 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Resp Ps 19; 1 Co 12:12-30; Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

You are Christ's body, and individually parts of it.

We are presented with many important reminders in today's celebration of the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. 

All the people listened attentively to the book of the law: 

Men, women, and those children old enough to understand!  

Rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength! 

Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. 

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He 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. 

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 

Now the body is not a single part, but many.

The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If one parts suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.

Living and true God, help us as we begin a new week. Grant us the strength and courage to follow you more closely, be more attentive to your Word, and build up the Body of Christ in word and deed. May we be people of joy, mercy, and love that knows no bounds. 

YOU MUST HONOR EVERYONE.

(RB 4:8)

Two questions: 

1. What is one thing you will do this week to be more attentive to the presence of God in your life?

2. Think of one person in your life with whom you have difficulties. How will you show greater honor to him or her?