Fr. Rick’s Three Minute Homily for Sunday – 01-23-2022

Sunday 3rd Week in Ordinary Time 2022  

Luke 1:1-4; 14-21 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012322.cfm   

“HE OPENED THE SCROLL.”

Have you ever bought a book, and it is still sitting on your desk or in your Kindle, ready to be read? I have a couple of those books. They looked fascinating when they came up in my email. How true it is that I will have no idea of the richness and fruit those books can bring into my life until I open them.

That could have happened to the people in Nazareth if Jesus didn’t open the scroll in the synagogue and find the passage that stated His mission. How about that? His mission is still being fulfilled today. Whenever you or I open the Scriptures, Jesus is opening our minds and hearts to hear Him say, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring glad tiding to the poor, bring liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free,” 

The Word you hear, the Word you read, is not written on a page. It is the Word of God, our Incarnate Lord Jesus, conceived in the womb of Mother Mary, born, suffered, died, and rose from the dead. He went through all of that so He can write His Word in your mind and heart where you live all the moments of your life.

Before you come to Mass, open the readings and listen to Him read them to you. He said, “My sheep hear my voice.” He is opening the book of your life. As you hear the Word of God in the readings at Mass, Jesus is opening your thoughts and experiences to let you see what He sees and listen to what He hears in all your memories and in all you are experiencing this moment. 

How much Jesus wants you to hear His glad tidings! How much He wants to release what is holding you captive. Believe it, “Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.

So, I say to you, “Open the book!”

IGNITE THE FIRE

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC  

www.bscchurch.com