Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 2:1-5; Luke 4:16-30)

Today’s gospel takes us back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Luke’s version of the story.  Notably Jesus has a decidedly social agenda.  He does not speak of forming prayer groups or upgrading the liturgy.  Rather, he will preach God’s love to the poor and proclaim dignity to the oppressed. 

The people who hear Jesus are “amazed” with his ability to speak.  However, they show no interest in his agenda.  Rather, they ask, where did this “son of Joseph” receive such eloquence?  Jesus himself perceives that they have more interest in seeing him work miracles than of assisting him on his mission of justice.  Such apathy will be an all too common response through the ages to the gospel he preached.

Hopefully, we will do better.  The gospel calls us not only to living according to the law but to advocate for justice and to practice mercy on behalf of the oppressed.  To assist us in this often demanding work we have the sacraments and Scripture.  They store love in our hearts that we might help others know God’s goodness.