Gospel
Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll 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. 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.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Homily
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I heard a very interesting comment recently. The commentator said this; “Not all successful politicians are good leaders.” In fact the commentator went on to say that Hitler was a successful politician. We all know that he was not a good leader.
The Gospel reading given to us for our meditation this weekend describes for us the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus and his awareness of the scope of this ministry. The social and political atmosphere of the time of Jesus was charged. Israel was under roman domination. The country was seeking a liberator. There had been a few false messiahs who had all been destroyed by the Romans. Added to this was the theology of the ruling class which put a lot of burdens on the people, burdens which few of them could fulfill. The time was ripe for a liberator and it was in this situation that Jesus made his appearance. Jesus we are told returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. It was this Spirit which led him to the Synagogue and it was there in the place of worship of his town that he proclaimed to all the purpose and scope of the mission.
It was a mission from God to do something very specific. He had been chosen “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.” Essentially it was a mission to reverse the lot of the people who found themselves on the margins. It was a mission to restore the harmony which God wanted for the world and of which Israel was supposed to be the model, and through this experience have the people come to an experience of the tremendous love which God had for them and the world. For a people experiencing isolation and exclusion this was indeed Good News.
When persons present themselves for leadership roles it is always important to discern whether or not they intend to lead in correct ways. The way it is done is checking to see if the person has a sense of, or is faithful to, the founding intuition of the group of which she/he seeks leadership. Jesus tells the people that he has this sense and is connected to the founding intuition of the Jewish people by quoting the prophet Isaiah and telling the people; “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Today as then, persons aspiring to leadership of institutions and countries present themselves to us. The choosing of leaders is too important an issue to do so based on anything other than the adherence of the person to the founding ideals of the institution or country which they seek to lead. All of us therefore as we face the issue of elections or the choosing of leaders are called to discern and not only are we called to discern, we must also help others to discern. The times in which we live and the future to which we aspire need capable leaders, persons not interested simply in power and self aggrandizement but truly in the welfare of the people of the institution/country, something which is always expressed in the founding intuition/ideals of the institution/country. In this way we contribute to building the justice, peace and harmony which is God’s vision for the world.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, your Son Jesus Christ presented himself as a leader, true to the founding intuition and ideals of the Chosen people. He was not interested in self or power, only the well being of the people especially the poor, the marginalized, the excluded. Today many people present themselves as leaders. Give us the gift of discernment. Help us to choose leaders after the heart of your Son Jesus, leaders faithful to the founding intuitions and ideals of our institution/countries, leaders TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF YOUR PEOPLE, especially the poor, the marginalized, the excluded. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother and your Son Jesus. Amen
