FOURTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, CYCLE C

Open with a prayer: Loving God, thank you for gathering us together. You formed each of us in our mother's womb and appointed us to be your ambassador in our families and communities. May your Holy Spirit breathe upon us so that we will understand and act on the word you speak to us during our time together. Amen.

Sharing of life: What is the gift of love that you most cherish (other than one's spouse, if married).

Facilitator reads focus statement: Both Jeremiah and Jesus are sent by God to be God's spokesman to the nations. Both experience strong resistance from the people. The second reading is Paul's famous hymn on the nature of love.

Now read the readings, pausing briefly after each one. Consider reading the commentary after each reading, if you have not already done so.

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19

This reading is about the call of Jeremiah to be God's prophet or mouthpiece. To Jeremiah God makes three assertions: "I formed you" a reference to how God is our potter and we his clay. "I knew you" is a reference to the intimate relationship between God and Jeremiah. "I dedicated you" is a reference to how God has consecrated Jeremiah to do God's work.

Then God prepares Jeremiah for the resistance he will receive from the people. "Kings and priests will oppose you, but they will not prevail" for God will strengthen Jeremiah to withstand all rejection. During his lifetime Jeremiah, like Jesus, was a total failure, but in time he was recognized as one of Israel's greatest prophets. Jeremiah is a wonderful example of "the triumph of failure".

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 71

This psalm expresses the feelings of one who encounters opposition but trusts deeply in God's protection. We can envision both Jeremiah and Jesus praying this psalm.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 12:31 - 13:13

In his commentary on First Corinthians, Richard Hays states that the purpose of 1 Cor. 13 is to portray love as the sine qua non of the Christian life and to insist that love must:

  • Govern the exercise of all the gifts of the Spirit (12:4-11, 27-31).

  • Inform and inspire the mutual respect and relatedness of all members of the community (12:12-26).

  • Be the motivation that draws the praying community together for the liturgy of the Lord's Supper (11:17-33).

  • Guide both the weak and the strong members of the community in making decisions that may offend the consciences of others, e.g., idol meat (8:1-13).

  • Prompt the caring correction of brothers or sisters who have sinned (5:1-13).

  • Assist in overcoming whatever divisions threaten the unity of the church (1:10-17).

  • Inspire generosity in the hearts of those from whom Paul requested a collection for the poor (16:1-4).

    Perhaps Paul's intent is best summed up in his own words: "Your every act should be done with love" (16:14).

    Having established love as an ethical principle and as a way of life, without which the manifestation of spiritual gifts has no meaning or value (vv 1-3), Paul then proceeds to describe what love (now personified) does and does not do. After stating that love is patient and kind, Paul then lists eight things that love is not namely, jealous, pompous, rude, etc.

    Paul's reference to his childhood may be a subtle reference to readers to "grow up", to look at love and learn from love and thereby grow to maturity in Christ, who is the love of God incarnate. In concluding his portrait, Paul comes home to rest upon the theological virtues of faith, hope and love. These will remain, insists Paul. However, when believers pass through death to eternal life, faith will yield in seeing God "face to face", hope will be fulfilled, and love will endure forever.

    GOSPEL: Luke 4:21-30

    The gospel is a continuation of last Sunday's gospel. It is the people's reaction to Jesus' "Inaugural Address". Initially, they are very enthusiastic. They are "amazed at his gracious words". But then things suddenly go sour. The people question Jesus and his identity: "Isn't this the son of Joseph?" Jesus responds: "No prophet is accepted in his native place." Then Jesus makes reference to the Gentiles, (people like the widow of Zarephath and Namaam), who were more open to the prophets than the Jewish people. This reference to the Gentiles, the archenemies of the Jews and Jesus' desire to include the Gentiles in his plan of salvation infuriates the people. They try to kill Jesus, but he escapes, for his "hour has not yet come". This event foreshadows the opposition and rejection that Jesus will experience in future years.

    FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

    1. What verse, image or idea spoke to you most? Why?

    2. To what extent do you feel called by God to be his representative in the world?

    3. Gandhi, a Hindu, reached out to Muslims. Yitzak Rabin, a Jew, reached out to the Palestinians. Archbishop Romero of El Salvador reached out to the poor. All were killed. Why do we kill our prophets? Why are prophets hard to take?

    4. See paragraph three of the second reading "love is patient...is not rude, etc." Which of the eight negatives - jealousy, etc. -- do you find it most challenging to keep out of your life?

    5. In the gospel, a mob mentality takes over. Do you ever have to deal with a mob mentality as you seek to practice your faith? And/or can you name examples of mob mentalities prevalent in our society today?

    RESPONDING TO THE WORD

    Name one way you can act on this Sunday's readings. Suggestion: Forgive someone who has rejected you. Meditate on the second reading and substitute your name for the word "Love", e.g., "Joe is patient...Joe is kind"...and see how you do.

    CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

    Pray for modern prophets who fight for the unborn, justice for the disenchanted, for workers, the poor, global warming, etc. Pray to grow in the virtue of love. ©

    What is love? Children know.

    Children, ages 4 to 8, were asked, "What does love mean?" Here are some of their answers:

    1. "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's love." Rebecca - age 8

    2. "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4

    3. "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5

    4. "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7

    5. "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7

    6. "If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." Nikka - age 6

    7. "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day." Noelle - age 7

    8. "I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4

    9. "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs."

    Chrissy - age 6

    10. "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4