Good News Reflection
January 21, 2007
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Neh 8:2-6, 8-10
Ps 19:8-10, 15
1 Cor 12:4-11
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
http://www.usccb.org/nab/012107.shtml

In next Sunday's Gospel reading, we see Jesus proclaiming his ministry: "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.... Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

As the reading from Corinthians points out, we are now the Body of Christ on earth. We are all important parts of this body! Every time we receive the Body of Christ in Holy Communion, we receive what we are, and thus we're renewed in the continuation of Christ's ministry. His mission is our mission. We consume not only Jesus in his full humanity and divinity, we also consume his ministry. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon us. Every Mass is a recommissioning of our vocation to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim what is acceptable to the Lord. Every time we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, this Scripture passage is fulfilled again.

Whenever prayers are not answered, whenever evil is allowed to prevail, whenever souls suffer because they have not heard the Good News of salvation in Jesus, it's because the parts of Christ's body that can do something about it are not doing it. God provides everything that's needed on earth THROUGH US! Jesus continues his ministry on earth THROUGH US!

Questions for Personal Reflection:
How does it feel to know that you're called to continue Christ's ministry? Reflect on how important you are to the Body of Christ and his mission. What are you good at? What do you feel passionate about? What particular evils disturb you most? This is where you are important and can make a difference!

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
Name some of the ways ordinary people can bring glad tidings to the poor, or free captives, or help the blind see, or set the oppressed free, or proclaim what is acceptable to the Lord. What are your experiences doing this? How is this an extension of Christ's own ministry?