Finally, back home and with the meditations...Bert

January 10: Scripture: I John 4:19-5:4. Psalm 71; Luke 4:14-22. Lectionary
# 216

Jesus continues to reveal himself through the Scriptures for this week
after Epiphany. His reading from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue at
Nazareth shows how he will accomplish his mission. In fact, he tells us
that the Scripture is being fulfilled this very day in what the scroll
says: Good News is brought to the poor--his preaching reaches the ordinary
man and woman of his day and our day. He proclaims freedom to those in
captivity--we are led out of our own addictions and faults. He gives sight
to the blind so that we can understand with faith of the heart what he is
telling us. He announces that this year is a year of God's favor--and
don't we need that? The Holy Spirit has led him to teach in the synagogues
and to do so with authority and truthfulness. The Spirit has anointed him
for the mission given to him by God and we are included in his mission for
he is with us even to the end of time. Many of us during this season have
a lot of pain and anxiety because of losses in family and friends, it is he
who comes to us to relieve us of this "Angst", this anxiety and fear.
Like the people of his time who marveled at his discourse, we, too are
comforted and consoled who can really do something about our troubles and
pains. As we turn back to the first reading from the Epistle of John, the
theme of God's love continues. We learn and know that it is God who loves
us first. God initiates love in us and for us. To be loved requires our
response in love. John is telling us that when we love our brothers and
sisters then the love of God is in us. For God is not seen, but they are
seen and loved and thus we are assured that God's love is what initiates
and makes it possible to love one another. Love is a very simple gift but
it demands daily response and self-giving. Joy, peace, and love are gifts
of the Spirit and Jesus led by the Spirit leads us to enjoy these gifts.
Amen.