REFLECTIONS ON THE WORD – 01/23/22 (Sunday)

Luke 1:3-4

3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent The-oph'ilus, 4 that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.

Luke 4:18

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

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Blessed Third Sunday in Ordinary Time! If we read the Scriptures with humility, the Holy Spirit will enable us to listen to the voice of Christ. St. Luke wrote the gospel account in order for The-oph'ilus to know the truth. The word "The-oph'ilus" means "friend of God." We can know the truth as we meditate on God's Word because of Jesus, who is the Truth. It is through reflection of God's Word that we can deepen our friendship with Him. Jesus Christ came to recover the sight of the blind, but He was not just speaking to physical blindness. He was also referring to people who were spiritually blind and who could be cured by His light as seen in His Word. 

During these pandemic times, many people were staying in their homes looking for new skills to learn and new hobbies to try. However, some people do not find time to include bible reading to their schedules. Maybe, some people are unaware of how we can know the Truth as we ponder on the word of God and how this is necessary for our life. How can we read the Scriptures with more reverence and with the intention of deepening our union with God? Before we read the Bible, we need to take time to pray and ask for God's guidance. This is an act of humility where we acknowledge that we are His servants asking for His Mercy. As we humble ourselves before Him, God will grant us the gift of wisdom, so we can be able to meditate on the Bible. Through the light of Christ, we will not just know the events narrated in the Bible, but we can also see God's message for us and how that applies to our lives. This is where our eyes will be enlightened, especially when we see our shortcomings and what God wants us to do to be closer to Him.  

Once we accept the message of Jesus in our reflection, we should be able to express our love for Him in our prayers. Prayer is the fruit of meditation. Here, we can praise Him, give thanks to Him, ask forgiveness for our sins, and make petitions to Him. At the same time, we have the duty to be firm on our resolutions. To do the will of God is truly pleasing to Him. Reflecting on God's Word is not merely a mental activity. Rather, it is an encounter with Jesus, the Eternal Word of God. 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic