Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
Notes:
How important is the Scriptures—the Bible.
§ First, the Scriptures are called the Liturgy of the Word—the first section of Mass
o Thus, we hear the Scriptures every Mass
o Then, the second comes the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which was also peppered with the Bible itself
Personally, I absolutely love the Bible and I hope everyone of you could do so as well
§ This shows the story of love between God and us as humans, and over centuries of history, combined with over a thousand pages (in our day of books) inform us the salvation plan for us from the very beginning (Genesis) to the end (Revelation) and everything in the middle
Now, let’s quickly look at the first reading, the responsorial Psalm and the Gospel
§ Ezra
o Their temple was destroyed and their people were deposed from their land to Babylon
o 50 years later, they returned to Jerusalem
o During that time, they almost lost God’s Word, God’s law
o Enter Ezra on the stage…no pun intended
§ “Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion. He opened the scrollso that all the people might see it…”
that had been made for the occasion. He opened the scrollso that all the people might see it…”
§ And: “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…”
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…”
§ For those of you that think my homily can go over 10 minutes some times, or the Mass gets over an hour, imagine you in that crowd who stood and listen to the Scriptures for over 5-6 hours!
o Ezra, Nehemiah and others then recreated and taught God’s Word
§ Then Jesus
o He was in a synagogue about 5 centuries later in Jerusalem
o He was given another scroll
§ 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.
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.
o And as the people were shocked, looking to him, Jesus said, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."
§ Finally, we prayed together a synthesis for both of these readings:
o “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.”
And that is how important it is to read, pray, study and contemplate God’s Word in the Bible!
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