feasting on the word
"If you meditate on the Scriptures it will appear to you in its brilliant splendor." ―St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 | Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 | Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 In our noisy and fast-paced world filled with distractions, the simple act of listening has become more valuable than ever. This Third Sunday in Ordinary Time encourages us to pause and truly listen—not just to the people around us but also to God’s Word. There was an old lady named Lola Felisa, known in her neighborhood as the "Queen of Novenas." Every single day, she had a novena to pray, and she never missed a single one. On Monday, she prayed the Novena to the Holy Spirit, demanding, "Lord, give me wisdom! And while You're at it, teach my noisy neighbor some manners!" On Tuesday, she knelt for the Novena to St. Anthony, frantically asking, "San Antonio, find me my missing glasses again! And maybe find me a new one who won’t break every month!" Wednesday was reserved for the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. "Mama Mary," she begged, "Help me win at bingo this week! Just once, so I can show those other ladies I’m still sharp!" By Thursday, St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes, bore the brunt of her requests. "San Judas," she sighed dramatically, "Help my arthritis disappear before my birthday party next week. I can’t look like an old woman in front of my guests!" Friday rolled in, and she fervently recited the Novena to the Black Nazarene. "Señor Nazareno, grant my prayers, and I promise to walk barefoot at Quiapo next year. But please—don’t make it too hot. You know how sensitive my feet are!"
On Saturday, she saved her longest list for the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes, pleading, "Bless me with good health, Mama Mary. And if you could keep my rice cooker from breaking, I’d be forever grateful!" Come Sunday, her family teased her, "Lola, you spend so much time telling God what to do, do you ever stop to listen?" But one day, as she hurried to light her candles, Lola Felisa tripped and dropped her prayer book. Sitting down on the church pew to catch her breath, she sighed, “Maybe I’ve been talking too much. Lord, what do You want from me?” For the first time, she sat still, in silence, with no words—only an open heart. A sudden peace washed over her, and she felt a gentle nudge in her spirit. It was as if God was saying, “Felisa, I’ve been trying to reach you. Be still. Trust me. I know your needs before you even ask.” From then on, Lola Felisa still prayed her novenas—but now, she also took time to sit quietly in God’s presence. Listening to God allows us to grow in faith and understand His will for us. The first reading from Nehemiah tells of Ezra reading the Law to the Jewish people who had returned to Jerusalem. Hearing God’s Word gave them joy, hope, and the strength to rebuild their lives. Similarly, we hear God’s Word at Mass, where we are reminded of His love and guidance. Listening to God can happen in prayer, through the Bible, or even through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. When we feel inspired to act kindly, forgive, or help someone in need, those are moments of listening to God. By responding to His call, we draw closer to Him and become instruments of His love. Once upon a time, the body parts had a very serious discussion about who was the most important. The eyes, proud of their ability to see, declared, "I am the greatest! Without me, you'd all be walking around in the dark, bumping into things. No one can live without vision!" The hands, flexing and stretching, joined in, "Oh please, eyes! You may help us see, but we do all the work! We reach, we grab, we hug. What would the body be without the hands to do everything?" The mouth chimed in, "Well, well, well. You may all do your parts, but let me tell you, I do all the talking, I express the feelings, and I bring joy with food! No one appreciates a good meal like I do!" But then, the feet, overhearing all this boasting, felt a bit left out. "What about me?" they asked, their voice barely a whisper. "Oh, feet, come on. You’re always smelly and dirty! You don't even look nice! You just stay down there on the floor, always out of sight," the hands scoffed. The feet, deeply hurt by the constant disregard, decided they had had enough. "Fine!" they huffed, "If I’m so unimportant, I’ll stop doing my job." And so, the feet refused to move. The body tried to get up, but without the feet, it was stuck. The whole body was paralyzed! As hours passed, the other body parts began to realize their mistake. Finally, the eyes, hands, and mouth gathered around the feet. "We're sorry," they said in unison. "We took you for granted. Please, forgive us and start moving again! We need you to be whole." The feet, still sulking a bit, finally agreed. "Alright, alright," they said. "But from now on, you’re going to listen to me when I talk. I’ve got a lot to say, you know!" The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians asserted that each member has unique gifts, and all are necessary for the Church to thrive. Just as the body functions best when its parts work together, the Church grows stronger when its members listen to and support one another. True listening requires focus and empathy, but we often fail to listen effectively. Here are some examples of how we might fall short: - Thinking about our response while someone is speaking. - Offering advice without being asked. - Interrupting or sharing bigger stories to one-up the other person. - Ignoring someone’s emotions or failing to ask follow-up questions. When we don’t listen, it can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings, much like a body that doesn’t function properly. However, when we listen with love, we foster understanding, peace, and unity. A penitent entered the confessional, fidgeting nervously. “Father, forgive me, for I have sinned,” he began. “I... I stole something.” The priest nodded solemnly and asked for details, then patiently listened to the story of how the man had swiped a wallet left on a café table. When it came time for the penance, the priest sternly said, “For such a sin, you must return the wallet and—” The penitent suddenly cupped his ear. “I’m sorry, Father, I didn’t catch that. What did you say?” The priest repeated, louder, “You must return the wallet and perform an act of service—” “Still can’t hear you,” the penitent interrupted, shaking his head. “Maybe there’s something wrong with this side of the confessional. Let’s switch places.” The priest, mildly annoyed but willing to humor him, agreed. They exchanged places. Once settled, the penitent cleared his throat dramatically and said, “Father, I saw you yesterday, looking very cozy and sweet with a handsome young man at the coffee shop.” The priest froze, eyes wide. Then, with impeccable composure, he responded, “What was that again? I didn’t hear you. Yeah, there *must* be something wrong with this side of the confessional.” The penitent smirked but said nothing more, realizing the priest had just outmaneuvered him at his own game. In the Gospel, the people of Nazareth were initially amazed by Jesus’ words but quickly rejected Him when His message challenged their expectations. Like them, we sometimes pick and choose what parts of God’s Word we want to hear. We may embrace messages about God’s love and blessings but ignore calls to repentance, sacrifice, or service. For example: - Some of us love attending prayer meetings but avoid the sacrament of confession, thinking we don’t need it. - Some others refuse to forgive those who hurt them. - Others enjoy sharing Bible verses online but hesitate to help someone in need, prioritizing personal comfort over generosity. Simply hearing God’s Word is not enough; we must also obey it. Spending the whole Sunday in church listening to God's Word won't lead us to heaven if we don't follow His teachings fully. Judas Iscariot heard all of Jesus’ teachings yet still betrayed Him. To truly follow God, we need to listen and act on His Word. <enrique,ofs
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About JeffJeff Jacinto, PhD, DHum |