In the second part of today’s gospel, Luke 4:14- 21, we hear St Luke’s account of Jesus launching his mission to the world. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, he travelled to “Nazareth, where he had grown up” and he walked into the local synagogue for an ordinary Sabbath service as he did every Sabbath day. There, in the presence of his family, friends and neighbors, Jesus took up the Scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and read: “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” (Luke 4:18-19). We will hear the response of the people of Nazareth in next Sunday’s gospel.
As I reflected on this reading, it occurred to me that Nazareth was an unlikely place to launch a global movement. It was Mary’s home town and is where the annunciation occurred. However, during the time of Roman occupation, it probably was nothing more than a small agricultural village of no significance. This possibly is why Nathanael would exclaim, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Contrast this launch with say Apple’s launch of the iPhone. When the iPhone was introduced at a San Francisco conference in 2007, it was a global sensation. When the phone was released six months later, thousands of people lined up for days outside Apple Stores to purchase the newest breakthrough in telecommunications. All the stores ran out of stock within hours of opening.
The message Jesus delivered to the people of Nazareth was far more profound than the launch of the iPhone although only a handful of people heard him. Jesus brought a message of healing, hope and freedom. He called upon the people of Nazareth and he calls upon us to be people of transformation. We too are anointed to bring the good news to people who are poor, captives, blind and oppressed. It is our job to proclaim the Kingdom of God and a year “acceptable to the Lord.” After several thousand years, Jesus’ message is still relevant. The mission statement has not changed. I wonder where the iPhone will be in 2000 years.
Lord God,
whose compassion embraces all peoples,
whose law is wisdom, freedom, and joy for the poor,
fulfil in our midst your promise
fulfil in our midst your promise
that we may receive the gospel of salvation with faith
and, anointed by the Spirit, freely proclaim it.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
