Third Sunday of Ordinary Time/C
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Lk 1,1-4; 4,14-21), Jesus, in the synagogue of Nazareth, after having read from the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah the passage taken from the beginning of chapter 61 (“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…”), shows himself to those present as the One who fulfils what has just been proclaimed, saying: “Today this Scripture, which you have heard, has been fulfilled”.
Two words pronounced by Jesus can challenge us deeply: “today” and “fulfilment”. In fact, in the life of each of us there should be a “fulfilment” and an awareness of this, a kind of “today”. A “fulfilling” life means perceiving that I am in the right place, in a situation where all that I am can be alive, exist and grow. And, at different moments of our existence, we have an understanding of this, an “intelligence” that makes us experience what “life in abundance” means. Being in the “right place”, despite the difficulties, the fatigue, the limits of our lives, is what saves our existence from an aimless and tasteless drift, in the continuous search outside of ourselves for something that can momentarily alleviate the terrible and unbearable lack of meaning. We will not always have an awareness of a “fulfilled” life (and we often lose this “awareness”), but striving to be in God’s will, sincerely seeking what he wants, constantly cultivating a “personal” relationship with him, all this allows us to lead, despite everything, a life worth living.
The Offertory antiphon for today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 117 (Ps 117, 16. 17) with the following text:
Dextera Domini fecit virtutem, dextera Domini exaltavit me.
Non moriar, sed vivam et narrabo opera Domini.
(The Lord’s right hand has shown strength, the Lord’s right hand has exalted me.
I shall not die, but live; and I shall declare the works of the Lord).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Graduale Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The interpretation is by the “Consortium Vocale Oslo” conducted by Alexander M. Schweitzer.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
