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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings, Jan. 24, 2010
By Jean Denton
Catholic News Service
January 24, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Cycle C Readings:
1) Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19:8-10, 15
2) 1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
For the third time in a year, a small group of medical students from Vanderbilt University held a public meeting in a remote, impoverished Appalachian coal mining town to explain the services they could provide, free of charge, if invited to run a weeklong health fair in the community.
For the third time, the university program director asked if the local residents were interested. Everyone had listened intently, but, for the third time, they responded with silence.
In two previous meetings they had also remained silent when asked about their health care situation, but the persistent director asked one more time: Could the medical students provide some needed services here in Lee County, Virginia?
Silence again. Then one woman, a mother and wife who had lived there her whole life, stood and said in a soft, steady voice, "I think if we'd had just one doctor here in town it would've saved a lot of lives in the accident at the mine (that happened a few years earlier)." One could've heard a pin drop as she sat down.
"Then it was like a flood as one by one people began telling their personal stories about the lack of health care," explained the religious sister who was at those meetings nearly 40 years ago and later told me the story.
So they held a health fair. Soon the community formed a health council, eventually establishing a network of clinics that today serves low-income people of the entire region.
This week's Scriptures show how powerfully God's word enlivens his spirit in the hearts of his people. As Israel began returning from captivity, Ezra was sent to teach the new generation. He rose to proclaim God's covenant and laws, and the power of his words brought all present to their knees.
The Gospel reveals the covenant fulfilled in Jesus: good news for the poor, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed. Jesus stood, proclaimed the truth and his spirit transformed those to whom he came.
Centuries later in Appalachia, when one woman finally spoke, everyone in the room knew the truth was out. A spirit of courage was unleashed as they gave it voice and were emboldened to act on it for the sake of their entire community. The truth again set the captives free.
QUESTIONS:
When was a time recently when the word of God inspired the Spirit in you? How can you act this week to help free someone who is oppressed?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"He stood up to read ... and found the passage where it was written: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me'" (Luke 4:16b, 18a).
END
Copyright © 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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