Breaking the Word

3^rd Ordinary Sunday – 23^rd January 2022 — Gospel: Luke 1,1-4; 4,14-21

Personalized Inclusiveness

The Holy Spirit plays a special role in Luke’s Gospel and in the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus is filled with, and guided by, the Spirit as other characters in the Lucan story’s: Mary (Lk 1,35.46-55), Elizabeth (1,41-45), Zechariah (1,67-79), Simeon (2,25-32), and John (3,1-18). The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus at his baptism (3,22), then leads him into the wilderness where he is tempted by the devil for 40 days and nights (4,1-2). Filled with the power of the Spirit, Jesus returns to his home country of Galilee and begins his public ministry in the synagogue at Nazareth (4,14).

The words Jesus speaks in Nazareth are especially important because they are the first words we hear of his public ministry in Luke’s Gospel. This is an inaugural discourse that represents the heart of his message and mission, which primarily comes from the Scriptures, not from anywhere else. He tells clearly what his mission is all about. He boldly claims to fulfill the words of Isaiah, who speaks of the Spirit anointing him, sending him, compelling him to bring good news to every one of God’s children who is bound up, pressed down, broken in spirit, impoverished, imprisoned, and desperately hungry for good news.

Even as Jesus read from this chosen text, he made subtle changes in his reading. In the changes he made, Jesus brings out what his intentions are for all those whose lives he will touch. In his reading, the Lucan Jesus omits the phrase from Isaiah, “to bind up the broken hearted” and adds instead, from Is 58,6, “He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free”. Also, he omits, from Is 61,2 “and the day of vengeance of our God” and ends, instead, by proclaiming the “favourable year of the Lord”.

Jesus has come to proclaim a year of God’s favour, which refers to the year of Jubilee commanded in Leviticus 25. It was to be a year of radical restoration, ever practiced in Israel. Jesus has come to show, through his words and deeds, God’s intention to liberate the impoverished and the oppressed and, in that respect, fulfill the ideal and social concern of the Jubilee year. Jesus has come to announce God’s promise of liberation in his own ministry for all the poor and oppressed, regardless of nationality, gender, or race. The radical inclusiveness of his message was not easy for all to accept. Many preferred to be exclusive. They wanted a Messiah who would fit in with the categories they had set. Thus, Jesus’ message was not only scandalous, but he himself was a scandal. Since they closed their minds and hearts to his inclusive message of God’s unconditional love, they were unable to receive it.

2^nd Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 22^nd January 2022 — Gospel: Mark 3,20-21

Neo Normalcy of Service

In the Gospel, many times Jesus and the disciples were flooded with crowds and consumed with serving that they could not take care of their basic needs, like eating. Jesus gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. Their time and attention were so occupied that they were obliged to forego their meals. Therefore, Jesus called the apostles to separate themselves from the crowd. With Jesus, there seemed to be a “new normal,” which was one of total self-giving.  Those whose hearts are enlarged in the work of God, can easily bear with what is inconvenient to themselves, and rather lose a meal than an opportunity of doing good. Of course, we are called to be prudent and balanced in our work, our ministry, and our family life.  However, the Gospel text points out, that those who go on with zeal in the work of God, must expect hindrances, both from the hatred of enemies, and mistaken affection of families and friends, and need to guard against both.