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Readings for Sunday, January 23, 2021

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 69

 It-Tielet Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

 

Reading 1                NEHEMIAH 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand. Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate, he read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform  that had been made for the occasion. He opened the scroll so that all the people might see it — for he was standing higher up than any of the people — and, as he opened it, all the people rose. Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, “Amen, amen!” Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD, their faces to the ground. Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people: “Today is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep”— for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”

Qari 1             . mill-Ktieb ta’ Neħemija 8:2-4a,5-6,8-10

F’dak iż-żmien, Esdra l-qassis ġieb il-Ktieb tal-Liġi quddiem il-ġemgħa, li kienet magħmula minn irġiel, nisa u oħrajn, li kienu jifhmu dak li jisimgħu. U mis-sebħ sa nofsinhar qara minnu quddiem l-irġiel, in-nisa, u dawk li kienu kapaċi jifhmu, iħares lejn il-misraħ li hemm quddiem Bieb l-Ilma. U l-poplu kollu kien attent jisma’ l-qari tal-Ktieb tal-Liġi. Esdra l-iskriba kien wieqaf fuq palk tal-injam, li kienu waqqfu għall-okkażjoni. Esdra fetaħ il-Ktieb u rah kulħadd jagħmel dan billi kien fil-għoli ’l fuq mill-poplu kollu. U meta fetaħ il-ktieb kulħadd qam bilwieqfa. U Esdra bierek il-Mulej, Alla l-kbir, u l-poplu kollu b’idejh merfugħin ’il fuq wieġeb: “Ammen, ammen”. U nxteħtu għarkupptejhom b’wiċċhom mal-art jagħtu qima lill-Mulej. Dawn qraw mill-Ktieb tal-Liġi b’mod li jiftiehem, fissruh, u spjegaw il-qari. Neħemija, li kien il-gvernatur, Esdra, il-qassis u skriba, u l-Leviti li kienu qegħdin jgħallmu lill-poplu, qalu lin-nies kollha: “Dan hu jum qaddis, ikkonsagrat lill-Mulej Alla tagħkom. Titnikktux u tibkux!”. Għax il-poplu kollu kien infexx jibki meta sama’ kliem il-Liġi. U żiedu jgħidulhom: “Morru u kulu laħam imsemmen u ixorbu nbid ħelu, u lil dak li ma ħejjewlu xejn ibagħtulu sehem minn dak li għandkom. Dan hu jum qaddis għall-Mulej. La ssewdux qalbkom, għax il-ferħ tal-Mulej il-qawwa tagħkom”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm             PSALM 19:8, 9, 10, 15

The law of the LORD is perfect,
 refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
 giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Salm Responsorjali              Salm 18(19):8,9,10,15

R/. (Ġw 6:63ċ): Il-kliem tiegħek, Mulej, huwa spirtu u ħajja. 

 Il-liġi tal-Mulej perfetta,
u tagħti l-ħajja;
ix-xhieda tal-Mulej hi sewwa,
u tgħallem lil min ma jafx. R/.

Il-preċetti tal-Mulej dritti,
u jferrħu l-qalb;
il-kmandament tal-Mulej safi,
u jdawwal l-għajnejn. R/.

Il-biża’ tal-Mulej sinċier,
u jibqa’ għal dejjem;
il-ġudizzji tal-Mulej sewwa,
u mseddqa għalkollox. R/.

Ħa jkunu milqugħa quddiemek
kliem fommi u ħsieb qalbi,
Mulej, blata tiegħi u feddej tiegħi. R/.

Reading 2             1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-30

Brothers and sisters: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. 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. Now the body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body, “ it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an ear should say, “Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body, “ it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you, “ nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.”Indeed, 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 honour, 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 part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

Qari 2                           mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 12:12-30

Ħuti, bħalma l-ġisem hu wieħed, u fih ħafna membri, u l-membri kollha tal-ġisem, għad li huma ħafna, jagħmlu ġisem wieħed, hekk ukoll Kristu. Għax aħna wkoll, ilkoll tgħammidna fi Spirtu wieħed biex nagħmlu ġisem wieħed, sew Lhud sew Griegi, sew ilsiera sew ħielsa, u lkoll xrobna minn Spirtu wieħed. Issa l-ġisem mhuwiex membru wieħed, imma magħmul minn ħafna membri. Kieku s-sieq kellha tgħid: “Ladarba m’iniex l-id, jien m’iniex biċċa mill-ġisem”, b’daqshekk mhijiex parti mill-ġisem? U kieku l-widna kellha tgħid: “Ladarba m’iniex l-għajn, jien m’iniex biċċa mill-ġisem”, ma jkunx ifisser b’daqshekk li hi mhijiex biċċa mill-ġisem. Kieku l-ġisem kollu kien għajn, fejn kien ikun is-smigħ? U kieku kien kollu smigħ, fejn kien ikun ix-xamm? Iżda Alla qiegħed il-membri fil-ġisem kull wieħed f’postu, kif għoġbu hu. Kieku kollha kellhom ikunu membru wieħed, fejn hu l-ġisem? Imma ħafna, iva, huma l-membri, iżda wieħed hu l-ġisem. L-għajn ma tistax tgħid lill-id: “Jiena ma għandix bżonnok”, anqas ir-ras ma tgħid lis-saqajn: “Ma għandix bżonnkom”. Mhux hekk biss, imma l-membri tal-ġisem li jidhru l-aktar dgħajfa, huma l-aktar meħtieġa; u dawk li nqisu bl-inqas ġieħ fil-ġisem, lil dawn l-aktar li nieħdu ħsiebhom; u ’l dawk li ma għandhomx ġmiel, inlibbsuhom b’aktar ġmiel; għax il-membri sbieħ ma għandhom bżonn xejn. Alla imma bena l-ġisem b’mod li żejjen b’aktar ġieħ lil dawk li jeħtiġuh l-aktar. B’hekk ma jkunx hemm firda fil-ġisem, imma l-membri kollha jaħsbu f’xulxin. Jekk membru jbati, ibatu lkoll miegħu; jekk membru jingħata l-ġieħ, jifirħu lkoll miegħu. Intom il-ġisem ta’ Kristu, u kull wieħed minnkom membru tiegħu. Lil xi wħud Alla qegħedhom fil-Knisja fl-ewwel post bħala appostli, it-tieni bħala profeti, it-tielet bħala għalliema. Imbagħad id-don tal-mirakli, imbagħad id-don tal-fejqan, l-għajnuna, it-treġija, u d-don ta’ ilsna diversi. Jaqaw ilkoll appostli? Ilkoll profeti? Ilkoll għalliema? Ilkoll bid-don tal-mirakli? Ilkoll għandhom id-don tal-fejqan? Ilkoll jitkellmu bl-ilsna? Ilkoll ifissru? Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel             LUKE 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: 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. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

 Evanġelju              Qari skont San Luqa 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Bosta kienu dawk li ħadu f’idejhom ix-xogħol li jiġbru bl-ordni f’rakkont wieħed il-ġrajja li seħħew fostna, kif għaddewhom lilna dawk li sa mill-bidu rawhom b’għajnejhom stess u saru ministri tal-Kelma. Hekk ukoll jien, għażiż Teofilu, wara li bir-reqqa kollha qgħadt infittex it-tagħrif dwar kulma ġara sa mill-bidu nett, deherli li għandi niktiblek kollox ħaġa b’ħaġa, biex tagħraf sewwa l-verità sħiħa dwar kulma tgħallimt. Jum wieħed, Ġesù, bil-qawwa tal-Ispirtu, reġa’ mar il-Galilija; u l-fama tiegħu xterdet ma’ dawk l-inħawi kollha, għax hu kien jgħallem fis-sinagogi tagħhom fost it-tifħir ta’ kulħadd. U ġie Nazaret fejn kien trabba. Daħal fis-sinagoga tagħhom, kif kien imdorri jagħmel nhar ta’ Sibt, u qam biex jaqra. Tawh f’idejh il-ktieb ta’ Iżaija l-profeta, fetħu u sab fejn kien hemm miktub dan li ġej: “L-Ispirtu tal-Mulej fuqi, għax hu kkonsagrani. Bagħatni nħabbar il-ħelsien lill-imjassrin, inwassal il-bxara t-tajba lill-fqajrin, u d-dawl mill-ġdid lill-għomja, irrodd il-ħelsien lill-maħqurin u nxandar is-sena tal-grazzja tal-Mulej”. Imbagħad raġa’ għalaq il-ktieb, tah lura lill-qaddej u qagħad bilqiegħda. Għajnejn kulħadd fis-sinagoga kienu msammra fuqu. U beda jgħidilhom: “Din il-kitba seħħet illum, intom u tisimgħu”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   

THE LIBERATING POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD

Central theme:

Sunday’s Gospel, presenting Jesus’ “inaugural address” in the synagogue of Nazareth and outlining his theology of total liberation, marks a great moment in Jesus’ ministry. The Scripture readings for today focus our attention on the importance and liberating power of the Word of God as “sacramental,” making God present in our midst. The readings challenge us to listen to the Word, accept it into our hearts, then put it into practice as we live out our lives, thus liberating ourselves and others from all types of bondages.

Scripture lessons summarized:

Today’s first reading, taken from Nehemiah, and Luke’s Gospel both describe a public reading of Sacred Scripture which challenges the hearers to make a “fresh beginning” with a new outlook. In the first reading, after rebuilding the Temple and restoring the city, Ezra leads the people in a “Covenant renewal” ceremony by reading and interpreting the Law. 

Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 19) sings the praises of the Law of the Lord and its effects on those who accept it. The Second Reading, taken from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, reminds us that “together we are Christ’s Body, but each of us is a different part of it.” This suggests that, as different parts of Christ’s Body, each of us has a share, as instruments in God’s hands, in bringing the freeing and saving mission of Christ to our world in our times.

Sunday’s Gospel describes how, on a Sabbath, Jesus stood before the people in the synagogue of his hometown, Nazareth, reading and interpreting what Isaiah had prophesied about the Messiah and his mission. Jesus claims that he is One sent “to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberation to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and freedom for the oppressed”—language that reflects the Biblical year of Jubilee. 

To the great amazement and disbelief of his own townsmen, Jesus declares that Isaiah’s prophecy is being fulfilled at that very moment “in your hearing,” because the prophecy foretells and describes Jesus’ own mission and ministry. Jesus’ mission is still to give liberation to everyone who will listen to his “Good News,” accept it and put it into practice. Luke reports that surprise and admiration were the initial reactions of the people who were astonished at the power and eloquence. of this son of their soil

Life messages:

1) We need to receive Christ’s freedom, live it and pass it on to others: As members of Christ’s Mystical Body, we share in the freeing, saving mission of Jesus. But we are captives of sin. We need Christ to set us free. We are often blinded by our evil habits, addictions and need for financial security. Once we receive true liberation from Christ, we have to share it with those we encounter in our daily lives, families, neighborhoods, parishes and workplaces.

2) We need to let the power of the Holy Spirit fill us, and then be ready to have miracles done through us. Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus performed miracles because he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us be ready to become Spirit-filled instruments of Christ’s saving freedom.

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