Hearing The Word

A weekly newsletter delivering context and insight into the Sunday Gospels.

To Announce the Lord's Favor and Freedom in Our Day

~ Rev. Jordan J. Kelly, O.P.

Chaplain to the Holy Spirit Adoration Sister at the Convent of Divine Love + Philadelphia, Pa.

Today’s Gospel has two distinct parts: the prologue {1: 1 – 14}, which is followed by a clear, if the reader will allow this phrase, “vision statement” {4: 14 – 21}, which will guide the reader’s understanding of all that follows in Luke’s Gospel.

The Prologue serves as a scriptural introduction to the necessity of virtue in our lives. There is a natural temptation to take it either too lightly and without serious need for consideration; or, to take it so seriously as a text filled with profound theological significance. Neither is correct. Here is the need for the virtue of prudential judgment: the text should not be disregarded, nor should it be the litmus test for believing all that will follow. The prologue is a historical compilation of the “events that have been fulfilled among us”. What has been fulfilled among us?

To answer that question, we now consider verses 4: 14 – 21. Placed at the beginning of his Gospel, Luke places the account of all Jesus has done and will do throughout His public ministry. Jesus returns to Galilee after His 40 Days in the desert following His dealing with the evil one and the temptations which were placed before Him.

There is no significant modulation from where Jesus has been, and where He will go. Rather, calling on the words of the Prophet Isaiah, Luke makes clear that Jesus and His Mission will be the Prophetic Procession by which the Father fulfills His Promise to His People.

Prophets make promises that are then fulfilled. Using the words of the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus fulfills His Father’s promise, that the Father will send us a Savior who will bring us liberty from our sin and guide our feet in the ways of peace.

What greater fulfillment can we need?

Letting Jesus Lead the Way

~ Cheryl Kehoe Rodgers

Saint Patrick Church + Norristown, Pa.

Jesus says this to those gathered in the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath day after he read from a scroll of the prophet Isaiah to his neighbors, perhaps relatives – to his hometown people. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me….”

The passage served as a blue print for Jesus’ life and purpose -- almost as if it had been written specifically for this particular moment in the life of Jesus.

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” 

Those words from Isaiah, being read by Jesus, are as impactful to me as any in the Gospels. Jesus is saying, “I’m it, I’m who you’ve been waiting for, believe it or not” and he’s delivering that message in a humble, gracious way. But I imagine he also read with a quiet confidence, opening doors for any and all who allowed his words to penetrate their minds and hearts.  

Jesus is introducing those in the synagogue to his public ministry – his reason for being. And, by that, he’s inviting us to accept him and his teachings, his way. Jesus tells us he is the anointed one, and that he will meet the needs of the most vulnerable – poor, captive, blind and oppressed.

All of us, at some point in our lives, experienced poverty, captivity, blindness or oppression --poor in spirt, captive to our sins, blind to justice and oppressed by others. And there, in the synagogue, Jesus is telling us he will lead us to freedom.



This is where our faith can be strongest. In the reading of Isaiah, Jesus is giving us all the direction we need. We just need to open our hearts and minds and let Jesus lead us.