Lectionary # 216. January 8,2009, Scripture reflection

Scripture: January 8, 2009. Thursday after Epiphany. I John 4:19-5:4.
Psalm 72:1-2.124-15.17. Luke 4:14-22. Lectionary # 216:

Only St. Luke could write a periodic sentence like that of John
Henry Cardinal Newman and he does so with his first four lines. The first
sentences of almost any novelist or literary artist are important. So, too,
for the first lines within the Bible. They tell us a lot and actually open
up the stories that will nourish us if we are patient enough to listen or
to continue in our daily reading of the Bible. It is a worthwhile endeavor
even if we only read a few lines. St. Jerome tells us that one who is
ignorant of the Scriptures is ignorant of Christ.
Luke is a clear and coherent writer. In his imitation of
ancient historiography he informs us about what has been fulfilled among us
during the life of Jesus. The word for fulfillment is found in the first
line even though it is not always translated that way. He writes to
confirm and support the readers and listeners in their faith and to lead
them to be witnesses and even missionaries for Christ. The theme of
fulfillment thus happens though not in the explicit manner in which Matthew
gives us texts from the Hebrew Scriptures. Luke nevertheless is carefully
basing the narrative on what he knows from the Greek version (the
Septuagint) of the Old Testament and then subtlely has Jesus fulfilling the
promises and messianic prophesies.

Today's passage is quite clear and shows us Jesus reading and
then teaching in a synagogue in his own native place of Nazareth. In those
days a synagogue was more of the gathering itself than a specific building,
but some sort of an edifice is evidently there at Nazareth as he takes up
the scroll of Isaiah and begins to read it and then comment on it in the
light of his own mission in life. It is in Luke's Gospel the event of his
inaugural speech that is going to be fulfilled as he starts his public
ministry. Jesus is always led by the Spirit in Luke's Gospel. In fact,
among the writings of the New Testament Luke-Acts has to be the work
dedicated to the theme of the Spirit as well as the work that is led by the
Spirit. Jesus himself is always led by the Spirit in this Gospel.

It is in the Spirit that Jesus then interprets his own reading
of his peoples' Scriptures. Among the favorite, of course, is Isaiah which
is used more often in citations than any other book from the Bible, the
Tanakh of Israel. Thus Jesus shows how God is faithful to his promises
and through his own witnessing to God's truth in the Scriptures, it is
Jesus himself who will "bring glad tidings to the poor...proclaim liberty
(forgiveness) to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, letting the
oppressed go free, and proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." He makes
it clear that this is not merely a repetition of Isaiah: "Today this
scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

A Psalm that is frequently used at the opening of the liturgy
of the hours tells us, "If today you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts." (Psalm 95:1). We may wish to reflect on the passage of Isaiah
61:1-2 and 58:6. Then we could conclude our prayerful reflection with
Psalm 95. We then can enter God's service and ministry by learning what
Jesus would do and not only Jesus, but all of his faithful followers since
his proclamation of the Good News in the gathering at Nazareth. Amen.