Gospel Reflection for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
By The Benedictine Community
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Today's gospel opens with several dramatic announcements or more correctly, several dramatic revelations. These announcements still speak to us today as clearly and dramatically as they did to the Jewish faithful two thousand years ago.
First of all, the Evangelist, Luke, gives us his reason for writing a clear and truthful account of the life and work of Jesus Christ, as eyewitnesses have revealed it to him. Luke has established himself and his gospel under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and his conviction of the Lordship of Jesus Christ is absolute.
Jesus announced his Messianic work, quoting the prophet, Isaiah, thus implying his divinity. Such a claim with the implication that he is equal to God incites the entire congregation against him. Thus did our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ begin his salvific ministry - doubted, feared, rejected and perhaps most hurtful of all, totally disbelieved.
Lord, have mercy on your people.