He Unrolled the Scroll

In this Sunday's Gospel, Luke 4.14-21, we hear of Jesus going to the synagogue in Nazareth and reading from the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah. This piece of scripture has always intrigued me. I picture it happening after the wedding feast and miracle at Cana. I picture it as Jesus growing more and more comfortable with his earthly journey. I picture it as Jesus embodying his mission deeply, and also proclaim the truth that the kingdom of God is here and now and will be forever. It is a powerful scene.

I’ve been trying to figure out why I find it so powerful. Maybe I connect with it for I see it as a transition, or maybe because I see it as affirmation or maybe because there is so much richness in the words from Isaiah and Christ making them real. There is this sense of light growing, this feeling of fullness, and this sense of radiating power, goodness and mercy. It truly is an encounter of God. God real and present in Jesus. God real and present in God’s love. God real and present in the call to live out our mission and that God is with us. It connects with Emmanuel – God With Us – the name given to Jesus by the angel when announcing his birth. God is indeed with us always and Christ brings this into reality. In Jesus proclaiming and claiming the words of the Prophet, he is saying God is here for you, for me, for everyone, the rich, the poor, the hurting, the free, the imprisoned. God is here. With Jesus proclaiming this, it also serves as a challenge for us to live out the fullness of our baptismal call, to live as children of God, to live the gift of our life with the purpose and meaning it has been blessed with. It is a call to life. Life calls us beyond ourselves. It calls us to love, it calls us to continually make God our center.

As a Franciscan there is a flavor of our vows and rule in the words Jesus proclaims. There is what we call our charism; to live the gospel at all times, to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters and creation, to embrace the poor (no matter how they are poor) so that they too may claim their dignity. The challenge is not necessarily easy, but it is one we grow into more and more. It is one we strive for, so that the Kingdom of God may be known and God’s mercy shared.

May we hear these words of Scripture ring in our ears, and may we stand next to Christ, knowing he is our strength and hope, and have the courage to also proclaim the words of the prophet.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me:

God is at work in us,

Beauty, energy, creativity, fullness

Life, called to life and to trust.

He has anointed me to bring the good news to the poor:

We are chosen, we have a mission,

The good news comes as a blanket, a kind word, a hug, food

Generosity not for our egos, but for God’s glory.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives:

Our voices are voices that makes a difference,

Freedom is a beautiful gift. How do we contribute to it?

Do we hold others down so we can get ahead or do we stand in solidarity?

Recovery of sight to the blind:

We can see, but not always,

Our heart is sometimes closed and blocks our vision,

We have to keep our eyes fixed on the Light of the world.

To let the oppressed go free:

We know freedom, our freedom is greater than not,

How can we help others know this freedom?

It is a choice to radiate you Jesus, even in our struggles.

To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour:

God with us today, tomorrow always,

God gives us the gift of God's free love,

Grace and Mercy, a gift lavishly given to us.

Lord our God,

Continue to fulfill your will in us

Today and every day.

One way we can live out this proclamation this week, is to remember and pray for the community of La Loche. The tragedy of this past week, is one that should touch all our hearts. It has caused great sadness in me. 

May we be bearers of good news and help release those entombed in sorrow, pain, anger and hurt. May we offer our prayers for the deceased, for their family, for the young man who committed the crime, for his family and for the whole community.  May peace, hope and strength be showered upon this community. We are neighbour. We are brothers and sisters. We are all family.