The Nature of Jesus' Mission
Brethren, on this third Sunday in the Ordinary Time, we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God. Pope Francis established the Sunday of the Word of God on September 30, 2019. This day is celebrated on the third Sunday of Ordinary Time and is dedicated to the celebration, reflection, and dissemination of the Word of God. The Pope wrote a Motu proprio “Aperuit illis" in response to requests from the faithful around the world to celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God. The timing of the document is significant. 30 September is the Feast of Saint Jerome, the man who translated most of the Bible into Latin and who famously said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. Let us today receive the Word of God, not just be hearers but also doers of the Word. The Word of God always calls us not only to love Him but also to become Jesus himself for others here on earth.
Brethren, today's gospel reveals the mission of Jesus, the true Messiah. Having entered the synagogue in his hometown, Nazareth, he was given the scroll to read, and he read where it was written that the Spirit of God is upon him, for he was sent to bring good tidings to the poor, prisoners, abandoned, oppressed, and declare the year of peace. This was a declaration of his manifesto, that is, his mission as the messiah. He did not meet the expectations of the political Messiah who was expected by the Jews; Jesus had come for the lowly of society. We are invited to take part in the mission of Jesus, to show love to the lowly and the looked upon of the society.
Brethren, Jesus comes to us and needs to take away all our challenges and world lures and bring us to his love. When Jesus spoke that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him, He spoke not just as the Jesus of Nazareth his neighbours knew, but as the Lamb of God who takes upon himself the sins of the world. He brought glad tidings to the poor by entering the greatest human poverty. Not even the poorest can say he is alone, for no poverty has been untouched by Christ. He came to let the oppressed go free by taking the cross beams of all oppression upon his back, and so he won for us a redemption which cannot be unmade. This is why he came into the world. This is why he comes into my world. And what does he find in my interior? To what poverty, scarcity, or even emptiness inside me does he wish to bring glad tidings? What oppression in my own life does he wish to lift from my shoulders to place on his own? What space in my interior is held captive that he wishes to liberate? What blindness does he want to return to sight if only I open it to him and humbly welcome him? This is why he comes to me today. This is why he wishes to reach others through me today, too. And still, he waits in anticipation for an answer.
Brethren, the same Spirit was given to us at our baptism and more specifically at confirmation, so that we may witness and do the same works that Jesus did. The mission of Jesus is our mission too, for if we call ourselves Christians, we must do what Christ did himself. Today examine yourself: how have you been the good news to the poor, how have you brought good news to the poor, how have you brought liberty to the captives, how have you helped those blind in faith to see the light, how have you shown charity and concern to the downtrodden, and how have you tried to bring justice and peace to everyone and the whole society? Reflecting on these will show you how you have taken part in the mission of Jesus.
Jesus, after reading, tells the people that today, this scripture passage is fulfilled in their hearing, a message that meant the coming of the Messianic era and the Messiah who was long awaited. In other words, their wait for the Saviour has ended by his appearance on the world scene. Though they didn't believe in him because they expected a political Messiah who would go to Jerusalem and establish a kingdom, he was telling them indirectly that they should not expect any other Messiah apart from him; he is the true Messiah they have been waiting for. In Jesus, we have our liberation, our freedom, our joy and hope. He alone can bring us that freedom from those enslavements and bondages caused by our sins, bad habits, and evil powers. It is by surrendering our lives to him that we find our true peace, joy, and freedom of the children of God.
Lastly, today's Gospel also gives a message that we should see God in everyone. How many times have we despised the people whom we know from A to Z and are close to us, by thinking that they cannot be prophets? Jesus could not be accepted by his own people because they knew that he was just the son of Joseph the Carpenter, and nothing good could come from him. But Jesus shows them and to us today that even our closest people can be prophets. People at first admired Jesus for his gracious words, but when they realized that he was challenging and shaking the very roots of their habits, beliefs, and traditions, they plotted to do away with him as he was inconvenient to a comfortable life. Do you reject somebody's message because he or she is close to you or because his or her words have shaken your unappealing behaviours both to God and to your fellow people?
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes and dreams. Through the gift of your Holy Spirit, you bring us truth, freedom, and abundant life. Fill me with the joy of the Gospel and inflame my heart with love and zeal for you and for your kingdom of peace and righteousness. Amen
Be blessed
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