
Our Great Journey
The theme is “Breaking News” based on Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21 / Lucas 1:1-4, 4:14-21
All pray the Sign of the Cross
Lord Jesus Christ, in your holy face we see the face of God. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on you, so that in everything we do we may be pleasing to you. Amen.
In addition to our prayers from the heart, our prayer for January is the Nicene Creed. Please pray this prayer daily to learn.
Using the Bible, invite a family member to read the Gospel aloud.
Things to talk about:
- Luke begins his Gospel by saying that he “investigated everything accurately anew” so that his readers would realize the “certainty” of his teaching. Why do you think it was important to begin the Gospel this way?
- Jesus returns to Galilee after his baptism. Galilee is about 70 miles away from where John baptized Jesus. With no television, Internet, or cell phones, how do you think the news of Jesus spread throughout the region? What do you think people were saying about Jesus?
- Where do you think Jesus received the courage to make this announcement before all his friends and neighbors? Describe a time that you felt the Holy Spirit with you.
- Re-read the prophecy from Isaiah in today’s Gospel. This prophecy describes Jesus. Describe Jesus in your own words.
Things to do:
- Right after he finishes reading the Gospel, what does the priest or deacon do to the Book of Gospels?
- Read and reflect on Scripture for 5 minutes every day this week. You can use this as your dinner or night prayer. For the daily readings this week, click HERE.
Closing Prayer
Lectio Divina
On this Sunday of the Word of God, spend some time reflecting on this Scripture. Jesus is known as the Word of God.
Lectio Divina (Latin: “divine reading”) is a way of developing a closer relationship with God by reflecting prayerfully on his words in Sacred Scripture. In Lectio Divina, the chosen passage is read three times in total, giving an opportunity to think deeply about it and respond thoughtfully.
Choose a reader for the passage below. After each reading, allow for a minute or two of silence to let the words sink in. Listen for any words or phrases that seem to jump out. After the third reading, pray about what God calls you to focus on today. Family members are invited to share their experiences afterward. This formula can be used for any Scripture passage.
Prologue
Jn 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
Name those who need our prayers.

Catholic Insights
This Gospel combines two separate passages taken from the Gospel of Luke. First we hear where Luke establishes the purpose of his Gospel. His style is typical of polished Greek and Roman literature. We learn that Luke may have written to a specific person, Theophilus; but the word Theophilus also translates as “lover of God.”
We skip to chapter four and hear that Jesus is in his hometown of Nazareth, attending synagogue on the Sabbath as a faithful, observant Jew. He reads from the words of the prophet Isaiah when Isaiah described the Messiah. Jesus announces God’s salvation. This is breaking news!
The “year acceptable to the Lord” is a reference to the Jewish tradition of Sabbath years and jubilee. The Sabbath year was observed every seventh year. It was a year of rest when land was left fallow and food stores were to be shared equally with all. A year of Jubilee was celebrated every fiftieth year, the conclusion of seven cycles of Sabbath years. It was a year of renewal in which debts were forgiven and slaves were freed.
In Jesus, something new begins. Jesus not only announces God’s salvation, he brings this salvation about in his person. Jesus is Yahweh’s Anointed One, filled with the Spirit of God. The Kingdom of God is now at hand. It is made present in Jesus, in his life, death, and Resurrection. Jesus will send the Holy Spirit so that the Kingdom of God can be fulfilled.
The Holy Spirit is Jesus’ gift to the Church. The Holy Spirit enables us to continue the mission of Jesus. When we do what Jesus did—bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, healing to the sick, and freedom to the oppressed—we serve the Kingdom of God.
Did you know…. Pope Francis declared the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God in 2019. This day is a reminder to read the Bible regularly and to put God’s Word at the center of our lives.
Resources adapted from 52Sundays.com, Celebrating the Lectionary, At Home with the Word, Celebrating Families, Sunday Connection
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