The Transformative Power of God's Word

01-26-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Albert

Today's Gospel Reading begins with Luke's famous account of the care with which he has researched the traditions of the first Christian communities. Luke has the ministry in Galilee leading into the courageous journey of Jesus towards Jerusalem to meet his fate, as he prepares Jesus' disciples for what lies ahead.

The teaching of Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth, concerning his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and Luke's emphasis upon the traditions of the community, remind us that the world's great religious traditions venerate the writings and teachings that put them in touch with their past. The first reading from the chronicles of Nehemiah describes a moving moment in the reestablishment of the Jerusalem community, after return from the Exile. It is believed that Theophilus simply refers to all who love and seek God. Therefore, this good news is for all of us and our salvation.

Today, Jesus presents to us his program of evangelization. His program is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 61: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, to proclaim the Lord's year of favor." This prophecy was made eight centuries before the birth of Christ, when the Israelites lived in slavery and misery in exile.

Hence, Isaiah's prophecy was a call to liberation. By using these same words as the basis of his ministry and mission, Christ announces His reign of peace, justice, freedom, and love to all those suffering from all kinds of oppression and injustice.

In other words, the kingdom that Christ has come to establish is open to all who will humbly receive him. All those who have the necessary disposition to receive the good news are poor in spirit. These necessary dispositions include charity and generosity, which manifest in service towards all.

The good news liberates us from two forms of slavery. The slavery which we mostly suffer is the personally imposed slavery, which results from our personal sins and mistakes in life. This slavery makes us spiritually exiled, blind, and deaf. It cripples our spiritual life and hardens our hearts against God and all that is good.

Fr. Albert