General. The Collect prayer beseeches God to conduct our doings according to His will so that in the name of His Son Jesus we may further accomplish better deeds. The Mass consists of two main parts, being the liturgy of the Word and that of the Eucharist. The importance of the Word is highlighted today in the readings from Nehemiah and St Luke, so that we learn that in following God’s biddings as given us in Scripture, we would be able to conduct our doings according to divine will.

Nehemiah. The Shabbat cult as celebrated by Nehemiah and Esdras is very reminescent of the Christian cult when Sunday was still celebrated as the Day of the Lord and the Liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist held a central position in a baptized person’s life. The reading and explanation of the Law (Torah) was done and followed by the people with great awe and reverence. There was no hurry at all as the whole morning was dedicated to the hearing of the Word and it was a day of rest when other concerns were set aside. A good meal followed where charity to fellow Jews was not amiss and the central message was ‘Rejoice, for this is the Day of the Lord; cast away all sadness for to rejoice in the Lord is your strength; this is a Holy Day in the eyes of the Lord; do not cry and weep when you hear God’s Word, but convert from your sins and turn your heart toward Him and believe (Amen).’

First Epistle to the Corinthians. St Paul speaks about the oneness of the Church, notwithstanding all of us having different charisma to perform within it. The Body of Christ, which is the Church, appears as one as long as each member within it works for its common good and contributes towards its well-being within one’s calling and limitations but with good intent and obedience to the one head.

St Luke. Jesus augurs his ministry in his hometown by reading from the Book of Isaiah, proclaiming the words therein as a fulfilment of the mission which had been foretold in his person. It is the Word of the Scripture which sets him on course to accomplish his Father’s will for him by his doings. The same applies to each and everyone of us if only we understand God’s will for us. This can be done by listening to God’s Words and explanations (homilies) on Sundays, and also by means of the scrutiny of Scripture (Old and New Testaments) to see what God wants to tell us about our individual lives, mission and vocation.

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