Jesus was in the synagogue of his hometown Nazareth on the Sabbath as was his custom. “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.”
This passage taken that Jesus quoted is from Isaiah. It is a proclamation of justice that is the core of the teachings of Christ and the mission of the Catholic Church. It is the concern for all of the marginalized in our society: for the poor, for the homeless, for the widow, the orphan and the stranger, for those in prison, for those caught in domestic violence and abuse, for those mistreated by racism and hatred, for those persecuted for their faith regardless if they are Christian, Jewish or Muslim.
Jesus said “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Is the Spirit of the Lord upon us? Can we say with Christ that this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing?
If the church’s mission is to live the teachings and ministry of Christ, the church must be a pillar of justice not only for all of those who are part of the church but for everyone in the world. Pope Francis follows this in his daily life; he treats all people with respect for their human dignity. This is an example for the entire world to see and follow. Pope Francis shows people how to live the teachings of Christ and the church.
Each of us must ask this question: Is the Spirit of the Lord upon me? Let us show the world that love still exists by the way we live our lives.
