Commentary to the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time C

Your Word: Joy of my Heart – Light to my Feet

The God of Israel speaks, and it is done (Ps 33:9). The idols of the pagans instead have mouths, but do not speak (Ps 115:5). For this they are unable to help, to protect, to perform miracles. The word of man may be far-fetched (Job16:3); that of God is instead always living and effective (Heb 4:12). It is like the rain and the snow that come down from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bring forth and sprout (Is 55:10).

It does not act in a magical way, however, it is equipped with an irresistible energy and, when it falls on fertile ground, when it is accepted with faith, it produces extraordinary effects. Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it as well (Lk 11:28). The privileged place for this hearing is the community meeting.

In the “day of the Lord”, the Risen One addresses his word to the assembled community. The Christian who does not feel the inner need to join with the brothers and sisters to listen to the voice of the Master can be certain: something has cracked in his relationship with Christ.

Already in the early centuries the reminder was repeated insistently: “Do not let the need of your temporal life precede the word of God, but on Sunday, putting aside everything, hurry to the church. Indeed, what justification can be submitted to God by one who does not go on this day in the meeting to hear the word of salvation?” (Caption, II, 59.2-3).

If among the faithful indifference, disaffection, listlessness in attendance at the Sunday assembly have infiltrated, this should not be attributed only to the laity. Some improvised, low in spiritual content, tedious and sometimes even depressing homilies also have their share of responsibility. Today’s readings invite all to reflect and review their own relationship with the word of God.

To internalize the message, we repeat:

“Lamp to my feet your word and a light to my path.”