In our gospel from today’s readings, we find a powerful and transformative moment in the life of Jesus. He has returned to his hometown of Nazareth, and on the Sabbath day, he enters the synagogue. As was custom, someone was asked to read. Jesus is handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolls it and begins to read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”
When you hear this proclaimed, what is your reaction? Hopefully a positive one given we are not burdened by the assumptions of the people of Nazareth. We assume quite the opposite. We have come to believe that indeed, Jesus is the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies, the long-awaited Messiah who has come to bring God’s kingdom to earth. A kingdom where all the problems of captivity, blindness and oppression have been eradicated or overcome.
Imagine that Jesus comes and proclaims this same message today – and you shout out an enthusiastic “Amen!” Then Jesus, looking a bit chagrin, comments, “But I was talking about you. I came for you!”
Encountering Jesus can be challenging. His message of love, mercy, and liberation may confront our preconceived notions and challenge us to examine our lives. Differently from the people of Nazareth, we accept Jesus, but might be a bit in denial about the things in our life that hold us captive, oppress us, and render us blind.
In his earthly ministry Jesus remained steadfast in his mission to bring God’s kingdom to earth. He invited people to join him on this journey of transformation. He commissioned apostles to carry on the steadfast mission. You were baptized in that same commission: help bring the Kingdom of God to this day and age.
Jesus comes for us, that we might go to others. But just like our automobile, we need maintenance, tune ups and sometimes repair – all to keep us on mission, on the journey.
In your life, what holds you back, keeps you captive, remiss or reluctant to proclaim, to your world, a year acceptable to the Lord?
Image credit: Jesus in the Synagogue, unknown artist, Vatican News Service | Public Domain