In our first reading this Sunday we find ourselves in the post-exile period on Israel’s history. All the people have gathered together to listen to the priest Ezra proclaim the Law of Moses, the word of God. They listen attentively to the Scriptures from early morning until midday, and “all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.” (Neh 8:9). They are weeping because for the first time since their exile they are being nourished by God’s word. During the period of exile Israel thrived and grew; they had their material needs looked after; they had shelter, clothing, and food. But they were missing one thing – The Word of God. And so when they return to Jerusalem, rebuild the walls, and hear the Scriptures again they cannot help but weep. The Psalmist sings: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps 119:103). Indeed, God’s word is the sweetest of nourishments, addressed personally to each of us. In our time, we have incredible access to the Scriptures; we even have the Bible on our smartphones. But with such exposure we can sometimes forget the strength and sustenance they provide. “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4 cf. Dt 8:3). Let us therefore always savor the saving power of the Word of God and never take for granted the richness of the Scriptures and their profound effect on our lives.
In this Sunday’s Gospel we encounter a similar story. Once again, the Jews have gathered together to hear the Scriptures and worship God. Our High Priest Jesus Christ, prefigured in the priest Ezra, stands to proclaim God’s word. Christ boldly announces: the Spirit of the Lord has “sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” (Lk 4:18 cf. Is 61:1). What else is He describing but the end of an exile? Our current exile is one of slavery to sin. We find ourselves exiled from God by our own sin; Christ comes to release us from the captivity of sin and to restore our relationship with God. In faith we anxiously await our true homeland, heaven, where God Himself will nourish us for all eternity. Christ, however, does not leave us abandoned on our earthly exile. He continues to feed us with His word in Sacred Scripture, and He sustains us with His very Body and Blood in the Eucharist.
As we ourselves gather this Sunday, following in the tradition of our elder siblings in faith, let us allow ourselves to be nourished by Christ. He desires to give Himself to us, let us open our hearts to Him so that His Word, His Body, and His Blood, may wash away every sin and heal every wound. May we never become complacent of Christ’s presence among us, but rather, let us seek to grow closer to Him daily and share His love with our neighbors, until He at last calls us from this land of exile to our heavenly homeland.
Kevin Ponte – St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta