Monday of 22nd Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

Reading: Lk 4:16–30

In today’s gospel reading, Our Lord Jesus went to His hometown. Upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath for prayers, he was summoned to read the reading of the day and give reflections. He opened the book of the prophet Isaiah and proclaimed to them the mission for which His Father sent Him to the world. He told them: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim a year of favour of the Lord.”

Jesus’ mission is to set us free from the grip of the evil one in all of its manifestations in sin, sickness, poverty, death, etc.

Dear friends, we live in a world where the agents of the evil one take pleasure in pushing us into sin, untold hardships, and poverty, threatening us with death, and doing everything they can to keep us from experiencing the joy of life.

Today, the Church is reminding us through this gospel reading that Jesus is still active in carrying out His mission in our midst despite the numerous number of the agents of the evil one in all corners of our world.

Therefore, all who are passing through hardships, sorrows, sicknesses, threats of death, oppressions, and those in both emotional and physical bondages should hold their heads high for their Saviour is mightier than the forces against them and His mission is to set them free. They should implore Him with faith and patiently wait for His intervention.

Have a blessed week.

Fr Isaac C. Chima