‘Hope does not disappoint’, and our joy increases, when we actively help our neighbour gain ‘new sight’ in their struggles
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 26, 2025
For those in Australia, I wish you a happy Australia Day: that each of us might appreciate that the opportunities we all enjoy, are due to the efforts of everyone, not simply my own efforts.
The Word of God today reminds us how important the Sacred Scriptures were for the OT people and the person of Jesus Christ. If we say we believe in Jesus but reject the Scriptures, are we not, also, rejecting Jesus Christ? Conversely, if we accept the Scriptures, do we allow them to guide us as they directed Jesus Christ?
The context of the First Reading is that the people returning from the great Exile realised they needed a code of behaviour to ensure that all of them could not only live in peace, with each other, but be secure, prosper and be happy.
Some people might say, “but that takes away my freedom!” But that is only true if we don’t depend on others for my security, prosperity and happiness. Do you think laws are necessary?
Think of our bodies: if the stomach says I want to eat a lot, and include unhealthy food, every day, then the whole body will suffer diseases (heart attack, diabetes, etc.). So, the rest of the body has a right to demand that the stomach eat healthy food moderately! In the same way, the legs cannot refuse to walk or the stomach will have no food to consume.
Freedom, in a sense, is limited to choosing to do what is equally good for the community and myself. Absolute freedom is the pathway to hell (living in sadness, loneliness and fear).
So, if we accept that the Sacred Scriptures are the best guidebook for our community to live happily together, we need to understand the Scriptures properly.
Here the Gospel clearly teaches us, through the passage selected by Jesus, that the welfare of others must be part of our daily lives: “He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the down trodden free…”
Entering into this Jubilee Year, the words of Jesus Christ, today, are profound and challenging. Jubilee years in Jewish history were “intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.”
With violent wars in the world now, and many suffering due to widespread corruption, the Holy Year theme is very helpful: “Hope does not disappoint” (Spes Non Confundit). Pope Francis is calling on wealthy countries to forgive the debts of countries that can never repay them; and to assist less wealthy countries suffering from climate change caused by the wealthy countries.
With that theme, can we ask ourselves: do I need to forgive any debts that people owe me?
Can we share any resources we have, especially if it will not cause us any expense?
Is it possible to be kind to those who have no space for family celebrations?
Unfortunately, sacrifice is required to bring about positive change, but our sacrifices for the good of others, creates a better future and avoids bad situations for ourselves tomorrow.
Have any of us experience the joy of improved relationships when we reduce criticisms and make the effort to praise the others in my family, workplace?
Sitting still and “hoping” things will improve does not work because we are co-creators with God, who will not do things without our cooperation. That is the great freedom that God has given us: a freedom to work with God, or not. Here the First reading should encourage us:
Nehemiah was an important official in the Persian King’s Court while in exile. He used his influence to get the King to help rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. He sacrificed his important and comfortable position to use his political and practical skills to manage the rebuilding.
Nothing good happens in life unless we make small and big sacrifices. We see that clearly with our material gains, but we sometimes struggle to do the same for relationship advances.
So, too, the more we can be faithful to a good code of moral behaviour towards others, the greater our happiness, more certain our hope and less sadness.
Finally, Pope Francis has said that our Holy Year pilgrimage is a chance to begin again. So we are invited, not so much to make ‘myself’ perfect, but how to improve my relationships with family members, co-workers and the local community: how can we “bring good news to the poor,” or give people “liberty” from fears, or help people get “new sight” in difficulties.
Done with sincerity and respect, these actions build up our hope for tomorrow, and greater joy for today. Let’s work together, bit by bit, to make our community more peaceful and happy.
By Gerard Conlan, OMI