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Gospel Reading for January 09, 2025 – Luke 4: 14-22
NEGATIVITY INTO POSITIVITY
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He 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.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
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In this day and age, we need Jesus all the more because it has become daily fare to hear negative things more than “glad tidings,” especially to the poor who are becoming poorer day by day. We need him to get ourselves free of the burden of sin and strife. We need him so we may have a better vision that will help us build God’s Kingdom on earth. We need him so there may be justice and peace. We need him to proclaim a year acceptable to God – a Jubilee year.
The 2025 Jubilee year officially opened on December 24, 2024 with the rite of Opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter by Pope Francis, and identifying the faithful as Pilgrims of Hope. This means, we are at present, in the Jubilee year – a year full of grace, a renewal of the passage in the scroll of the prophet Isaiah that Jesus read in the synagogue in Nazareth.
In the midst of so much negativity around the world, let us take this opportunity to spiritually enrich ourselves, our families and friends, and with renewed hope face the future with an “open spirit, trusting heart and far-sighted vision” (Pope Francis). Let us harvest all the good things that this Jubilee year has to offer so we may be one in Christ’s mission of turning all NEGATIVITY INTO POSITIVITY! To be reconciled to God, to other people, and to all of God’s creation!
Lord, help us be ambassadors of hope by making our faith in you shine ever brightest to your greater glory!
