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The Spiritual Waiting Room

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Isaiah     Spirit

Unrolled     Revealed     Undertaken

Scripture Passage Is Fulfilled

Mission

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 4: 15 to 21

Jesus came to Nazareth, where He was raised, and went as He usually did into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He rose to read and He was given a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled it and proclaimed:

"The Spirit of God has anointed me to share glad tidings with the poor. 

The Spirit has called me to announce freedom to those who are captive,

the blind will regain their sight,

those who are oppressed will gain their liberty,

and I will declare a year acceptable to the Lord."

Jesus rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and took a seat.

The eyes of everyone who was there gazed intently upon Jesus.

He told them, 

"Today this passage from Isaiah is fulfilled in your hearing."

Reflection

In our passage from Luke, Jesus is going back home. This synagogue and the people who are there are very familiar to Jesus.

He attended many such services in observance of the sabbath when He was growing up. As part of those celebrations, members of the congregation would proclaim the scriptures.

The passage that Jesus finds from the scroll is a famous one from Isaiah 61 that speaks about the coming of the Messiah---the Anointed One of the Lord. 

The Messiah will first of all share good news with the poor. From this passage and others, the Church has developed its teaching about the preferential option for the poor. 

This is a central concern of the ministry of the Church. We must try in every way we can to help those in need. This is clearly what the Lord asks.

There is also a stress on the importance of bringing freedom to those who are held captive in any way. We know there are many types of captivity.

Sometimes we are held captive by our hate for others, by our lack of forgiving those who have harmed us, and by our indifference to others. Jesus comes to help us break those chains of captivity by showing us the path of love.

Those who are blind to the needs of their sisters and brothers will be helped to reach out to them with compassion. They can follow the example of Jesus who always took time to help those who were in need of healing and those who were avoided by others.

The goal that Jesus points out from Isaiah is to help people achieve freedom. Jesus shows that each person has dignity and value. No one is to be neglected.

Jesus talks about the Jubilee Year as an important aspect of the mission of the Messiah. This would take place every fifty years---taking place after every seventh Sabbath year. It was a time of rest and a time for forgiveness and giving freedom to those who were in slavery.

After sharing this passage from Isaiah, Jesus takes it one step further. He tells those in the congregation, His neighbors and friends, that this scripture is now fulfilled. 

They react in disbelief. They know Jesus so well. They are thinking, "How can He possibly be the Messiah?"

They are so upset with Jesus that they want to throw Him over the hill on which the town of  Nazareth was built. Jesus was able to pass through the midst of the people.

What a way for Jesus to begin His public ministry! 

Of course, as we know, this type of opposition does not stop Jesus. The Spirit of the Lord has anointed Him. 

His mission went forward because He came to bring freedom to all of us and to help us to see.

1. How important is it for you to reach out to the poor?

2. How can Jesus help us break the chains of captivity today?

3. Why are the people of Nazareth so upset with Jesus?

4. How does Jesus react to opposition? 

5. How does this passage bring out the importance of scripture in the ministry of Jesus? 

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)