About the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Sunday, January 26, 2025
The readings for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C focus on the call to ministry and the importance of scripture.
In the first reading Ezra the priest teaches the people and interprets the law for them. In the second reading we learn that we are all parts of the same body of Christ. In the gospel, Jesus interprets the writings of Isaiah and declares his public ministry.
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
- Sunday, January 26, 2025
- Mass Readings
- Themes
Daily Mass Readings for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
- First Reading – Nehemiah 8:2-4A, 5-6, 8-10: “Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate, he read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.”
- Responsorial Psalm –Psalm 19: “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.”
- Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 12:12-30: “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.”
- Gospel – Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21: “He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.”
Themes for the Readings
- Sacrament of Holy Orders
- Universal priesthood
- Scripture study and knowledge
- Community
- Reaching out to those who do not feel included
See extended theme ideas and reflection questions at the bottom of this post.
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Resources
Divine Reading: A Lesson Plan on Lectio Divina
This lesson plan will help youth understand the importance of prayerfully reading the Bible to understand how God is speaking to each of us personally through His word.
All Together Now: A Lesson Plan on Racism
We are all one body. But the playing field is not always level. This lesson plan provides a way to discuss institutional racism.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders
Holy Orders is a sacrament of the Catholic Church by which a man is ordained to be a deacon, priest, or bishop. It is a sacrament of service.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina means “divine reading”. It is a prayer practice which trusts that God speaks to us through scripture.
Prayer Before Reading the Bible
This is a traditional Catholic prayer before reading the Bible. It asks God our Father to send His Holy Spirit to make us ready to hear Him.
Praise the Glory of God
This prayer is based on Psalm 19, which is the Responsorial Psalm for this weekend. God has done so many wonders for us that we cannot contain it. We must praise Him.
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If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.
1 Corinthians 12:26
Homilies and Reflections
A New Day Dawns
In both the first reading and the gospel, the main figure reads from a scroll. The stage is set for the renewal of the covenant.
Learning Who We Are
The people had forgotten their identity so Ezra taught them. We must also know who we are to fulfill our mission.
More Themes
Luke presents Jesus as a teacher, speaking words which inform and inspire. He tells people about the Kingdom of God. And he points out that it is already a reality. We can miss that when we are focused on our everyday lives. We are distracted by what happened yesterday. We worry about what is coming tomorrow. Jesus is here now, speaking to us.
His words would have brought new energy to those who were listening. We must let the words of Jesus set us on fire again. We can do this by reading scripture and thinking about what Jesus is saying to each of us personally, right now.
Jesus also speaks boldly. He tells people of freedom and healing. This might be a good time to reflect on our own willingness to boldly speak about the Kingdom of God. Saying the right thing at the right time can make a difference. We must be open to those opportunities when they present themselves and not fear rejection of the message. We might be planting a seed which sprouts and grows later.
Reflection Questions
- Do I take time to listen to what Jesus is saying to me in Scripture?
- Can I listen to something I have heard before and understand it in a new way?
- Am I willing to announce the freedom and healing which Jesus brings?