Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 1: 1-4, 4: 14-21 – Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. 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. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“…eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us…”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
St. Luke wrote the third Gospel. (It is the third Gospel in the Bible, and historically it was the third to be written.) At the time Luke is writing, he says “many” are trying to compile narratives about Christ. But he mentions specifically “eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word” who have also compiled these events into narratives and “have handed them down to us”—probably he means Matthew and Mark (who was with Peter). This gives us a very important insight into the early Church’s understanding of authoritative teaching about Christ.
The apostles were the authority of the early Church. The qualifications stated in Scripture for the apostles is that they were “eyewitnesses” of Christ’s ministry and of His Resurrection. They were the “ministers of the word.” It was the apostles who were considered authentic authorities on their teachings about Christ, though many others had their own teachings. The same is true today. The successors of the apostles—the bishops—are the authentic and authoritative voices of the Church. The media, government, professors, or other Bible scholars are not! Others’ messages might be very good, but they can also often be incomplete, misunderstood, or plain wrong. We must be very careful to listen to the bishops’ teachings. Pray for our bishop during prayer.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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