He unrolled the scroll

This weekend was profoundly moving for me. As a deacon, I am a Minister of the Word. It is both a responsibility and a privilege, and this weekend reminded me of its sacred weight. At the reopening of the beautifully renovated St. Joseph Church, standing in the presence of the archbishop, I had the honor of proclaiming the Gospel. It was a moment that filled me with reverence.

Then, on Saturday evening and again on Sunday morning, I proclaimed the Gospel once more, during our parish celebrations of ‘Sunday of the Word of God’. Each time, I felt a deep sense of humility, knowing I was an instrument of the living Word of God.

I was also particularly moved this weekend, as the Gospel - Luke 1-4; 4:14-21 prominently featured Jesus reading the sacred Word of God ‘And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written...’

Through our baptism, we are all called to be proclaimers of the sacred Word of God. This weekend reminded me that the responsibility of sharing the Word of God is not reserved for clergy alone, but is a mission entrusted to all believers. I was reminded that each of us, in our own lives, has the opportunity and responsibility to proclaim the Word of God.

I reflected on the significance of Jesus himself reading from the scroll of Isaiah. We all have a profound connection to that sacred tradition—a lineage of proclaiming God’s Word that stretches back to Christ himself.

Proclaiming the Word of God begins with immersing ourselves in it—reading, studying, and reflecting on Scripture so that its words take root in our hearts. By spending time with the sacred texts, we deepen our understanding of God’s message and prepare ourselves to share it with clarity and conviction.

Then, we are moved to share the Word of God within our conversations, at business meetings, at family gatherings, at providential encounters with strangers, at any opportunity, because we are fired up and empowered.

Friends, it is my fervent hope that this publication will inspire us to a deeper journey with the Word of God. I invite you to be my associate by sharing the publication, subscribing to it and if you can afford to be a patron, becoming a paid subscriber.