What do we feel when we encounter the word of God? What do we do? Whether at Mass, in private prayer, or in a public place, what is our experience of Scripture? If the answer is “Well, I haven’t really thought about it,” or “Nothing, really,” then perhaps we should ask ourselves why that is. If the response is “discouragement” or “sorrow,” then there may be other problems. This Sunday’s readings teach us two responses we should have to hearing the Scriptures: joy and action.
In the Sunday readings, we see several ways in which God’s word profoundly touches those who hear it. In the first reading, we find that the people who listen to Ezra reading the Law weep at what they hear. They learn about the commandments of God and realize that they have not been following them, leading them to sorrow. This response is good. It shows that the listeners are internalizing the message they hear and acknowledging that it is personal and authoritative—not simply a nice old story about God talking to other people. They recognize that God’s message is for them and they see the inadequacy of their own choices in light of this divine word.
Their response is imperfect, however. Ezra teaches them that the correct way to respond is with joy: “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Rather than bemoaning their ignorance of the Law, they should rejoice that they now know God’s will for them. God’s commandments are not burdensome. Rather, as the responsorial psalm tells us, the law of the Lord revives the soul, makes wise the simple, and rejoices the heart (Ps. 19:7-8). Knowing that God loves us and desires to be near to us, guiding us with His commandments, is a cause for joy, not for sorrow.
In the beginning of the gospel, we see St. Luke act in response to the word of God. Having heard the good news from “eyewitnesses and ministers of the word” (Lk. 1:2), Luke decides to “write an orderly account” (v. 3) so that others might “know the truth” (v. 4) and so come to embrace the salvation offered them by Jesus Christ.
We also hear about Jesus’ proclamation of the word in the synagogue at Nazareth, where He announces that the year of the Lord’s favour has come upon them. The people’s response is not included in this Sunday’s gospel, though we perhaps know the story. They at first “spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Lk. 4: 22), but then became angry when Jesus tells them He will not work miracles among them due to their lack of faith. We will not hear the response of the people at this Sunday’s Mass. But let this be an invitation to make our own response. How will we react to hearing the word of God? With words of empty praise as the people did? With disinterest and distraction? With sorrow and disappointment? Let us instead welcome it with joy and resolve to take action, sharing the good news through the witness of our lives and our own “gracious words.”
Andrew Sheedy – St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta
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