One Minute Reflection – 27 January – The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Luke 4:14–21
“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 recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”...Luke 4:18
REFLECTION – “Now let us imagine that we too enter the synagogue of Nazareth, the village where Jesus has grown up, until He is about 30 years old. Then, after a moment of silence filled with expectation on the part of everyone, He says, in the midst of their general amazement: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”.
Evangelising the poor – this is Jesus’ mission. According to what He says, this is also the mission of the Church and of every person baptised in the Church. Being a Christian is the same thing as being a missionary. Proclaiming the Gospel with one’s word and even before, with one’s life, is the primary aim of the Christian community and of each of its members.
It is noted here that Jesus addresses the Good News to all, excluding no one, indeed favouring those who are distant, suffering sick, cast out by society. Let us ask ourselves: what does it mean to evangelise the poor? It means first of all drawing close to them, it means having the joy of serving them, of freeing them from their oppression, and all of this in the name of and with the Spirit of Christ, because He is the Gospel of God, He is the Mercy of God, He is the liberation of God, He is the One who became poor so as to enrich us with His poverty.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 24 January 2016
PRAYER – All-powerful, ever-living God, direct our steps in the way of Your love, so that our whole life may be fragrant with all we do in our daily lives as missionaries of Your beloved Son, who sent us forth to proclaim the Good News. Lord God, let St Angela Merici ever commend us to Your love and care. May her charity and wisdom inspire us to treasure Your teaching and express it in our lives. Through our Lord Jesus, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.
AnaStpaul 