1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Psalm 119:97-102, Luke 4:16-30

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor. Lk 4:18

Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, 
Pope and Doctor of the Church


1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Psalm 119:97-102, Luke 4:16-30


1 Corinthians 2:1-5

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Every baptized person is called to evangelize. Eloquence in speech means nothing if the Spirit of God is absent. The most important thing to remember as St. Paul reminds us, is to know nothing except the Cross and You who was crucified on it. In this is the power, in this is glory, in this message alone lives are transformed.

There is no greater Truth by which all can be saved than this that while we were yet sinners, God sent You into the world to lay down Your life as a ransom for us. 

Psalm 119:97-102

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

The very essence of effective evangelization is contained in the following verses. There are no secrets for God does not hide the Truth from those His children. If we desire to live and preach the Good News by which we are all saved, then let us take the time to know Your Word, meditate on it, give it room in our hearts and allow its Light to illumine our spirit and the world.

How I love your law, O LORD!
It is my meditation all the day.
Your command has made me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers
when your decrees are my meditation.
I have more discernment than the elders,
because I observe your precepts.
From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
From your ordinances I turn not away,
for you have instructed me.
Lord, I love your commands.

Luke 4:16-30

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today's Gospel passage gives us an insight into Your life when You grew up in Nazareth, Your hometown, as well as an insight into human behaviour. 

We are told that You grew up in Nazareth and that it was customary for You to go on the sabbath day to the synagogue.

We are then told that You were handed a scroll of the writing of prophet Isaiah, having found the passage that You wanted to read You stood up and did so. Once You were done, You handed the scroll back to the attendant and sat down to address those in the synagogue. Every eye was on You. They thought they knew You, they watched You grow up from a child to a Man and they were interested in knowing what You had to say with regard to the passage You had just read.

Some of them had heard of Your miracles around the country and there would have been much gossip and speculation about You. You did not disappoint. You revealed to them exactly who You were. The prophecy of Isaiah referred to You and to no other. The world need look no further the Messiah was in their midst. 

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.

"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

One would imagine that there would have been great rejoicing for the long-awaited Messiah was finally here and He was from Nazareth, their hometown. Not so.

You were never in the habit of speaking platitudes and You were not going to start now. This was the time for Truth and that they would have no matter how unpalatable or how difficult to swallow.

At the end of Your address to them, they were so furious they literally chased You up the mountaintop with the intention of hurling You over it and killing You such was their rage.

I love the way the passage closes:

But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
This is the attitude we who evangelize ought to have.

You warn us to expect hatred from those who refuse to accept the Truth because it is uncompromising and will not permit the sinner to wallow in sin. They hated You first and we can expect no less. But we must be fearless we will walk in the midst of our enemies unscathed for the hand of God will be upon us. Not a hair from our head will be harmed if God does not will it.