You Belong and have a Mission

I can’t sleep tonight as I write this at 3:30am, but I am invigorated because we have three interesting readings this weekend.

The book of Nehemiah recounts events which happened about 100 years after the Jewish people had returned from the Babylonian exile. After their initial religious fervor, the people’s moral life and commitment to God’s law had lapsed. So, Ezra the priest challenged the people to renew their commitment to the law, and conducted what would be called today a “religious revival”. Ezra also proclaims “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared…” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Ezra’s instructions to the people show us that God does not forbid us from enjoying the good things in life. However, He expects us to share our blessings with those who are in need.

Today we continue our second reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Christians in Corinth, an important seaport. He was answering a letter they had written to him, containing questions about Christian life in their community. Among the questions was how to deal with the diversity of gifts within the community, and the rivalries and jealousies that inevitably arise. He responds by using an image that the Catholic Church has emphasized, the body of Christ.

St. Paul reminds us that each of us has a function in the body of Christ, the family of God.
When we serve each other, we not only build up the church and the kingdom, we allow our faith to grow stronger to help us carry a bigger burden for the Lord. May we rejoice in the word of God and always seek the good for our brothers and sisters in this lifelong journey.

Today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke offers us the first words of Jesus as he begins his public ministry. The words reflect his understanding of his Spirit-anointed mission. His words are his “Mission Statement.” Good stewards rejoice in being followers of Jesus. They realize that Jesus’ commission is their commission as well. They embrace it and adopt it as their own. We, too, have “glad tidings” to bring to a suffering world. This year, how will we fulfill Christ’s commission in the world in which he has placed us, using the gifts he has entrusted to us?