Weekly Reflection

Today we hear St. Paul being emphatic about what the Gospel really is, about the truth of Jesus’ life and death and resurrection, and about the witnesses who could testify to this truth. Paul’s own part in that witness came as a result of a personal revelation given on the road to Damascus.

Peter is conscious of being such a sinful person. To find himself associated with this holy man, Jesus, not for the first time, telling someone not to be afraid. Follow the Lord and all will be well. And so, leaving their nets behind them, these simple fishermen set off on a journey that has never ended.

We too find ourselves in this company of Jesus, and invited to be preachers of the Gospel. We, too, know only too well how feeble and frail we can be. But we are not asked to rely on our own strength but to follow the Lord. His grace is enough for us. We are only earthen vessels that carry this treasure, but what a treasure it is! This world of ours, this globe, sees the drama of everyday life, and we are part of it. Let us be a Gospel part of it.

Some could speak in tongues, some had the gift of healing, and others could prophecy. These gifts were good in themselves, but the Corinthians were failing to value the greatest gift of all, the gift of love. For St. Paul love was practical, down to earth, a day-in and a day-out of dealing with each other. “Love is kind.” How could he have put it more simply and more directly? We have to be kind to each other: to say “please” and “thank you” and “pardon me.” “Love is patient.” How hard it is always to be patient with those with whom we live or work, not to let them get on our nerves or annoy us with their concerns when we are not interested. “Love is not jealous. Love is not snobbish. Love is not rude. Love does not put on airs.” Every item in his list is practical. Love never fails.

It has been observed by spiritual writers that St. Paul’s letter the word “love” can be replaced with the name “Christ.” Christ is patient, Christ is kind, Christ never fails. The Eucharist is the means for growing in Christ-like love. When we have received Holy Communion, we must pray: “Lord, transform me and all my affections. Help me to love, as You love.” St. Paul observes that the three great virtues are faith, hope and love. When we get to heaven we will no longer need faith because we will see God face to face. We will no longer need hope because we will achieved our goal. But we will have the greatest of all virtues; we will have love. We can begin eternity now by praying for and by putting into practice a Christ-like love for each other.

Today’s Gospel reading takes us to the synagogue at Nazareth. There children would be taught, and adults would gather to pray and sing and discuss the scriptures. It is the sabbath day and Jesus is invited to read. Apparently He deliberately chooses a passage from Isaiah, long regarded as referring to the Messiah. Then, as was the custom, He sat to preach. Jesus uses Isiah’s prophetic words as His own statement of intent: He has come to “bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free.” Jesus is a man with a mission: He has come with good news. The Gospel of St. Luke makes it clear that sharing this good news is an essential part of following Christ. The good news first delivered in the little synagogue at Nazareth spread throughout the then-known world, because people passed it on, passed it on, until it finally reached Rome itself. St. Luke’s Gospel has been specially identified as the Gospel of the compassion of Christ: Jesus reaches out to those in need, sits at table with the outcasts of His day – sick people, criminals, those who were poor. The Jesus of St. Luke did not come to to call those who were righteous and respectable, or who thought they were; He has much more time for those who are sinners and know it. The Jesus of St. Luke keeps strange company; His life begins in a stable with a pose of low-grade shepherds gathered round Him; and it ends with His being nailed to a cross between two criminals.

Each time we come to Mass that episode in the synagogue is being repeated. Today Jesus is here, today He’s bringing us good news, today He’s assuring us that He loves us and wants us to be His friends. Above all today He is proclaiming that the time of “God’s favor” has arrived. As we reflect – we can also take the time to thank God for the precious gift that has been given us in the Gospel of St. Luke.