Luke 1: 1-4, 4: 14-21
"To share in his mission"
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012322.cfm
Presidents, Prime Ministers, even the Pope
will offer at certain times, solemn important speeches that set a tone for the
present and the future. In this Country, the President at the time of his/her
inauguration will speak to the Nation they now lead and will establish a vision
for America with lofty goals and promises. Those of us old enough to remember
the sunny but very cold January morning when the new President John Kennedy
spoke words that have been quoted numerous times: “Ask not what your Country
can do for you, but what you can do for your country” is likely one of the most
memorable and inspiring. Such quotable statements set a vision, a direction in
which to move forward. People will listen intently to their words and analyze
what they mean.
The Pope in his annual address to the “City
and the World” (Urbi et Orbi) will do the same each year on January 1st. We hope to hear some words of hope,
encouragement, some positive direction and words of peace and comfort. In fact,
this parish and most others will compose a “mission statement” that will
describe our vision of how we at this particular parish will live out the
Gospel of Christ. It describes who we
are and who we hope to become through God’s grace.
This Sunday we hear another inaugural address
of sorts - in this case, from Jesus himself. The author of this Gospel, Luke,
makes an effort to tell us that the events we are about to read are absolutely
verified as true. What the Christians of his time had been hearing about Jesus
is certain. We can place our faith
confidently in what we have come to believe about Jesus’ mission in the world.
So, there is no doubt that Jesus own
reputation had already preceded him when he came to his hometown of Nazareth as
we hear this Sunday. His familiar synagogue assembly, was his mother among the
women gathered (?), knew him well and knew his mother Mary and presumed father,
Joseph. So, as he is given the great honor to read the words from Isaiah and
present a commentary (homily) on them, the crowd “looked intently at him” to
hear what he would say. With conviction, Jesus did more than just read words as
others before him had done. He boldly
assumed to himself the content of what he had read far beyond what any rabbi or
prophet before him had done or would even imagine doing.
His word is solid; his word is deeply
personal and his word has a power of its own. The chosen reading from Isaiah
handed to Jesus foretold a vision of hope and healing to a broken world and a
year of favor granted by the Lord in which all debts are forgiven. The promise
was not about finances or increased pay. It would be a kind of jubilee year. A
spiritual bondage is broken through God’s mercy and forgiveness and through his
healing work both physically and between peoples.
So, when Jesus boldly stated: “Today this
Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing” we are left in a sense hanging
by a thread. We were told earlier that
his teaching was “. . . praised by all.”
But the operative word Jesus assumed was:
“today.” At this moment in time, in this synagogue, in this town of Nazareth,
in this world around us, God’s kingdom has arrived. Jesus of Nazareth has been anointed as the
one who will bring this about! Jesus is not just another prophet, rabbi,
teacher or guru. He is the living Son of
God come among us and his word and his person ushers in a new age.
This "mission statement" in the
words of Isaiah that Jesus read described how the words of Isaiah were now
being fulfilled in Jesus himself. Jesus
has been filled with the “Spirit of the Lord . . .” and he will be the one who
will bring hope to the poor, freedom to captives, will heal the blind, untie
the limitations that have bound people in sin and oppression, and will establish
a “year” in which the Lord will finally take charge of the world’s
direction.
As the audience sat likely stunned by Jesus’
implication, there may have been a moment of silence as his words sank in to
their hearts and minds. Next week we
will hear the reaction of those gathered in the synagogue who rather quickly
absorbed the implications of his bold connection.
The first reading from Nehemiah and the
reading of the sacred law by Ezra the scribe with rapt attention from the
crowds further enhances this message.
The crowds – “. . . bowed down and prostrated themselves before the
Lord, their faces to the ground” is an impressive reverence for that sacred
word. The lost and wandering Jews forgot
who they were. Ezra, in proclaiming the
words of the sacred Law, renewed their vision and their identity. In the word that was read to them, they
learned anew who had called them, formed them, and who desires a new
relationship.
And for us today who hear this passage, it is
intended to have the same effect on us. We too should be called to
attention. Our response is not one of
“same old, same old” but as if we hear it for the first time as did the crowd
in the synagogue. But, what was at the
heart of Jesus’ words today; the core of his “inaugural address?” All are
chosen by God and in and through Christ Jesus, we form a new connection with
each other as his Body the Church.
So, Paul reminds us today as he did his own
Corinthian Christian community, that “You are Christ’s body, and individually
part of it.” The diversity of the Church and its unity is created not through
our efforts but rather is formed and shaped by the Spirit of God.
Today – now – this moment we carry forth what
Jesus himself began. In hearing these
same ancient words, we see them as living and active. The “inaugural address” given by Jesus
establishes our identity as a Christian people.
Healing a broken world is ultimately God’s work but as his hands, feet,
eyes, the many parts of his Body in the world, we do our share in building up
his Kingdom. How can you as a married person, as single, as an ordained
minister or consecrated religious carry on this mission according to your state
in life?
The same Spirit which compelled Jesus into
the desert, anointed him for the mission his Father had entrusted, which
descended on the Apostles, and breathes life into the Church, the Body of
Christ, has come upon us in our Baptism and Confirmation. The very essence of our Christian lives is to
discern our mission as a part in the mission of Christ. May we become healers, peacemakers, servants
after the example of Jesus’ himself.
"By word and deed he announced to the
world
that you are our Father
and that you care for all your sons and
daughters . . ."
(Eucharistic Prayer for various needs IV:
"Jesus, who went about doing good"
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