March 18 Luke 4:16-22

16Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:  18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,  because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,  to release the oppressed,   19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”   20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”   22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

Reflection:
Jesus applied five Old Testament promises to his mission on earth (vv18-19).  Which of them can you identify with the most?
Poverty (downtrodden, underprivileged): to receive hope and dignity, Imprisonment (physically, psychologically or politically captive):  to receive freedom from bondage
Blindness (physical disability often meaning spiritual darkness): to receive new sight to recognize God’s perspective and new life
Oppression (political and economic disadvantage): to receive release and new freedom from forces holding you down
Debt (every 50 years all debts were cancelled): to receive the Jubilee Year’s release from debt of every sort.

Recall my situations before and after receiving Christ.  Jesus delivered me from being in bondage to sin, being blinded by the wickedness of the world, and I have been given new life.  I am called to tell others the good news that God is doing to the the world through how he worked in me.