The One who Brings Joy and Sets Us Free

The One who Brings Joy and Sets Us Free

Lk 1: 1-4; 4: 14 – 21

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction

The reading today begins with Luke’s introduction to his gospel. Then he narrates how the Spirit led Jesus back to Galilee where he preached in the synagogues.

The Gospel

Our reading begins with Luke’s introduction of his gospel. In this introduction, he basically says that he is writing down events that have happened and have been  fulfilled. He is of course referring to the events about Jesus of Nazareth.  Luke claims that he is writing an orderly account of these events so that the reader may realize the certainty of these teachings. He addresses this introduction to a certain “Theophilus” who may be a particular  individual or may represent a Christian community he was writing to. Then, Luke begins his narrative about the public ministry of Jesus.

Luke begins his narrative by telling us that Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit plays an integral part in the life of Jesus in Luke’s gospel. In Luke’s gospel, new beginnings were always accompanied with the power of the Spirit. We see this in the Lord’s baptism and at Pentecost.

So as Jesus returned to Galilee with the Spirit’s power, news of him spread throughout the whole region. Jesus’ return to his home district must have created some news especially as he taught in the synagogues where he was praised by all.

But the high point of Jesus’ tour of Galilee was his visit to his hometown in Nazareth. There, on the Sabbath, Jesus went to the synagogue. At Nazareth’s synagogue, Jesus stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus 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. “

After Jesus read this passage from Isaiah, Luke tells us that Jesus rolls back the scroll and hands it back to the attendant and sat down. Then the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.  Then he said: “ Today, this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. “

Reflection

Luke’s introduction to his gospel, addressed to a certain “Theophilus,” is like the preface of a book where the author explains to the reader the background of the book.

Luke was not himself an eyewitness to the life of Jesus. This is why he speaks of his account as those “that have been handed over to us.” This means that he is writing about the things that have been handed down to him by those who have witnessed the Lord. 

Luke also tells us in his introduction why he made a written account of Jesus’ life. Of his account on Jesus’ life, he writes: “so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.”

This short introduction tells us how Luke, an early Christian who did not witness the Lord’s life, has now accepted Jesus and believed in him through the accounts of those who have witnessed the Lord. As one who has now believed, he, in turn, is handing over to others, in written form, that which he has heard so that others too may know the truth about Jesus.

Our faith in the Lord comes from hearing. Just like Luke, we are not eyewitnesses to the Lord’s life. Yet, just like Luke, it is in hearing about the Lord that has made us believe, love and follow him. We may not be eyewitnesses. But we can certainly be witnesses to him who has died and has risen.

After this brief introduction, our reading, takes us then, as if abruptly, to the beginning of the Galilean ministry of Jesus. The Spirit’s power accompanied Jesus as he preached in the synagogues in Galilee. His words must have pierced the hearts of those who heard him. Jesus created such an impact as he taught, which is why Luke tells us that he was “praised by everyone” and that news about him spread through all the surrounding countryside.

But the central and main focus of today’s reading is when Jesus visits his hometown in Nazareth, the place where he grew up. There in the synagogue, he reads a passage from Isaiah. Here, Jesus appropriates for himself the scriptural passage from the prophet Isaiah.

As one listens to this passage, it becomes clear that the Lord’s mission is to bring joy and good news to everyone. He brings joy and gladness as he announces freedom to those in captivity and sight to those who cannot see. He announces joy as he unburdens those who feel oppressed by the burdens they carry.  

Moreover, Jesus brings good news by proclaiming a year acceptable to the Lord. The proclamation of an acceptable year is like proclaiming a jubilee year. When a jubilee year is proclaimed, all kinds of indebtedness are erased and dissolved; every slave is freed, and everything is returned and restored to how they were in their original state.

It is the Lord’s will that we should live free and remain free; free from everything that burdens us. The first of these burdens are our sins. Our sins deprive us of true joy that comes from following the Lord’s will.

There are also, however, other burdens that the Lord wants to remove from us: our anxieties, our fears, our worries; our pride, our addictions, our guilt, our hatred, our unforgiving heart, our envy and jealousy and so many other things that make our hearts captive, our eyes blind and our souls oppressed. It is Jesus who comes to set us free and who releases us from all these encumbrances.  

Luke ends this episode with some enigmatic words. At the end of this episode, Luke tells us that Jesus rolls back the scroll, hands it over and then sits down. Then, as all eyes are on him with his listeners waiting for what he was going to say, Jesus tells them these words: “Today, this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. “

These were enigmatic words directed to Jesus’ audience in Nazareth. His audience at Nazareth must have wondered what he meant. But these words too are directed to us; that as we read this passage from Luke, we know too know that this scripture passage is already being fulfilled in us.

As we read these texts and believe in Jesus as one who frees us, as one who liberates us, as one who unburdens us and as one who transforms our sorrows to joy, we are already seeing the fulfillment of this passage deep in our hearts. Believing in Jesus as one who frees and heals us shall bear fruit in our lives. To live as he wants us to live, happy and free, is the goal of Jesus, our Messiah. Blessed are we who believe and know that we can truly be happy and free in Jesus.

Prayer

Dear Lord, it is you who bring joy and gladness to my heart. But the only way that I can experience true happiness is when I am free from all my burdens. Set me free from whatever that enslaves and takes my heart captive. Deliver me from everything that oppresses me, from my sins, from my fears, anxieties and other burdens. You who set captives free, break the yoke of my burdens and help me experience a life free from all my fears. Amen.

“Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid. “ – Isa 40: 1 -2

For reflections like this, go to my blog: thevineyardlaborer.blogspot.com