Jesus tells us that Scripture is fulfilled in His coming and mission among us
Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 27, 2019): NEH 8:2-4,5-6,8-10; PS 19:8,9,10,15; 1COR 12:12-30; LK 1:1-4; 4:14-21
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
The Gospel for this Sunday shows us Jesus in the early days of public ministry.
We hear that He received a warm reception when He spoke throughout Galilee. Then He goes to His home synagogue in Nazareth. “(Jesus) was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah…and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor… and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.… He said to them, ‘Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.’” (Luke 4:17-18, 21)
Jesus proclaimed His mission by embracing the prophetic words of Isaiah. The Spirit of the Lord is with Him. He does bring glad tidings. This young Man whom His neighbors have known for years is telling them that He is the Messiah who heals the sick of body and soul and frees those oppressed by hardship and sin. He is truly the one for whom they have been waiting; the one they desperately need. We will see in the readings for the coming weeks of Ordinary Time those who welcome His message – and those who do not. Jesus Christ was everything His people yearned for and nothing at all that they expected. The mercy of God is the essence of His gift of salvation. Today we also need to embrace His mercy and share it with others. That is our mission.
