Daily Reflections ...

The gospel reading today takes place early in Jesus’ ministry.  Jesus, who is in the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth, reads the following passage from the prophet Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
        to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to let the oppressed go free,
  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Then he makes a huge claim.  He identifies himself as the one being referred to. He is the Lord’s anointed one,  – our saviour. The prophecy also reveals his mission and mandate: “to bring the good news to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free …”

Jesus reveals himself as our saviour and his mission in this place, and he continues to reveal himself to us today.  He also outlines a radical inclusiveness that gives us insight into who he is and to how we ought to live.   Jesus not only preaches these words, he powerfully demonstrates these through his actions and life. 

He continues to demonstrate this radical love in our lives today. At times, we can all find ourselves poor, captive, blind, downtrodden. It is in these times that Jesus walks with us, to enrich us in our poverty, to free us in our captivity, to enlighten us in our blindness.

Let us reflect on Jesus’ mission, his radical love in our lives and in the world, and let this be an example of how to live our lives.  Let us pray to be part of this mission and to be Jesus’ hands and feet in this world. 

by Lisa McKerr