The Sunday Gospel [January 27, 2013]
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
1Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, 3I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.
14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. 15He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.16He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read 17and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:18“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, 19and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” 20Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. 21He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Reflection
“Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” ~ v. 21
Returning to his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus was invited to speak in the synagogue. His reputation as a wonder worker and powerful preacher had preceded him, and the people hung on his every word. This was not the first time that they had heard this passage – it was part of their regular cycle of Scripture readings. But this time it was different. Jesus spoke with unmistakable authority and their hearts were stirred.
What made the difference? The Spirit of anointing rested on Jesus just as he had filled the prophet who spoke these words. The words came alive as Jesus declared, “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives.” You can just imagine some of the people seeing themselves in those words for the first time – and sensing that their own deliverance was at hand!
How can we have this same experience? What will make the Scriptures leap off their page for us? The Spirit of anointing! When you read the Bible, invite the Holy Spirit to help you. Ask him to open your eyes to his truths in a deeper, more personal way. Read the passage carefully, and make sure you understand what it is saying. Use a commentary or a good study Bible, but don’t stop there. Prayerfully ponder what you have read. Let the words echo in your mind and heart. If a particular verse or even a word strikes you, stay with it and see what happens. Give it time, and don’t worry about the rest of the passage. Maybe the Lord wants to say something to you personally right then and there.
Finally, make sure you write down whatever sense you receive as you ponder the word of God. Keep a prayer journal so that you can review it now and then to see how much the Lord is doing in your life. He wants to talk with you! He wants you to learn how to hear his voice!
Prayer Response
Lord, open my eyes to your wonders in the Scriptures.
Reflection Credits: the WORD among us
Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarroabel.blogspot.com/).
No comments:
Post a Comment