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Vocation Meditation -
January 24, 2010
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who, from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about Him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was His custom.
He stood up to read, and the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour."
And He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
Then He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Luke's authorship of the Gospel is unique.
He is the only one who confidently introduced his work using the pronoun, "I"!
He introduced the writing of Jesus' story as a painstaking result of his careful research, an orderly account of the truths about Jesus. He offered the best method of work to Theophilus.
He recounted the truths out of his personal experiences of hearing, listening, remembering the faith stories as told to him by believers and eyewitnesses of Jesus.
His Gospel was inspired, no doubt about that. Luke affirmed that even though his work was undeniably a human effort of careful historical research, his searching mind joined with the revealing Spirit of God, the divine author of his gospel.
It was this same Spirit that led Jesus to Galilee. It was the same Spirit of wisdom that filled Him when He proclaimed the Scriptures in the synagogue.
Luke highlighted Jesus' habit of worship. It was His custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath. The worship in the synagogues might be far from perfect but He never failed to join His people worshipping the Father and revisiting God's word spoken to Israel.
Luke highlighted the passage Jesus read in the synagogue as contrasted to that of John the Baptist's preaching. John in the desert somewhat carried a message of doom. Jesus' message, quoted from Isaiah, was a gospel- the good news given to all. Jesus always gives good news to the poor and to all faithful seekers of truth. In Him, the Lord's favor is there for everyone!
Vocation Meditation:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me."
How well do I ask the guidance of the Spirit in seeking daily the truths about Jesus?
Dear God,
You gave me Your Word filled with Your Spirit of light and wisdom. In my vocation path, guide me to faithfully seek the truths about Jesus. May I then walk humbly, blessed and sent by You. In Your Name, allow me to translate these truths into good news for others to live and grow. Amen.
For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.