READ SCRIPTURE (Luke 4:14-21)

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“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 favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

REFLECT ON THE READING

When Jesus returns to his childhood home of Nazareth, he attends the synagogue Jesus is a faithful Jew who actively participates in the local synagogue. As was the custom of his days, the lay male members in a local synagogue have the privilege to publicly read from the Scriptures and offer comments. The passage read by Jesus is from Isaiah 61:1-2. The prophet Isaiah portrays God’s anointed as one who embodies God’s grace and hope by bringing good news, healing, setting free, and comforting.

What does the phrase “Spirit of the Lord is upon me” mean?
What is possible if God sends a person?
Based on this Isaiah passage, what is the mission of Jesus?
How did Jesus in his ministry fulfill each aspect of the mission?

PRAY

Creator of the universe, you have created a marvelous world to explore and discover. Help us to stay focused on Jesus to shape our lives and to give us direction. Amen.

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