Third Sunday Ordinary Time
St. Luke explained the origin of his Gospel. He decided to “investigate . . . accurately anew” all the “events that have been fulfilled among us” according to how the “eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us.” Then he wrote a narrative of those events “in an orderly sequence.”
By events, Luke meant Christ's life and the Church's birth.
By eyewitnesses, Luke meant the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Apostles, and the rest of the disciples.
By ministers, I think he meant those who handed on what they received. We have received the same deposit of faith.
Luke wrote about “events that have been fulfilled,” good news that accomplished what they announced. Christ announced salvation with his words, showed salvation in his miraculous acts or signs, and accomplished our salvation through his Paschal mystery.
The Gospel reading moves on to Jesus reading Isaiah in the synagogue about the dawn of the messianic age and the coming of the Messiah, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” In other words, he was saying, “I am the One Isaiah promised you.” He proved he was this man by his marvelous preaching accompanied by miracles.
“A year acceptable to the Lord” Jesus began, because God was visiting his people, pouring out his blessings on them: Good news to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, freedom from oppression, and much more.
This year is still going on. Everyone can now come to God and find redemption, if he or she wants. It is up to us to help those around us.
Today people urgently need to be evangelized, that is, to have the Catholic Faith presented to them authentically and attractively.
Lucky for us, Faith is already attractive in its goodness, truth, and beauty, which is why it is called gospel, good news, or glad tidings.
The people needing evangelization include us, our families and friends, those who were once Catholic but are not any longer, our separated brethren in other Christian denominations, non-Christians, those who are downright hostile to the Faith, and those who have never heard of Christ.
What can we do? Do one thing each day, however small it seems.
- Pray for light. Ask our Lord often, daily, What can I do?
- Pray for others to embrace the faith or return to it. Don’t forget to pray for their temporal needs, too.
- Start getting to know people. Make friends and acquaintances instead of just minding your own business all the time. Talk to people so that you get to know them and they know you.
- Perform a spiritual or corporal work of mercy with an apostolic motive. Our brothers and sisters in the Faith have always been deeply concerned with those in need. In this, they and we are just following our Founder and Head, who went about doing good while he walked the face of the earth.
- Offer your work and whatever sufferings you have to endure this day for the spread of the Faith.