The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison; to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord, a day of vengeance for our God; to comfort all those who mourn and to give them for ashes a garland; . for mourning robe the oil of gladness, for despondency, praise.
Also Luke 4 16-21 (800 years later)
Jesus came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:
The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord's year of favour.
He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him.Then Jesus began to speak to them,
This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.
Short Reflection: His life was being poured out Jesus’ reading from the prophesies of Isaiah was his first public sermon given in a synagogue on the occasion of the launching of his public ministry in his home town. He claimed that he was the long awaited Messiah and he was setting the tone for his ministry.
Jesus was reaching out to: the poor, the blind and downtrodden, the gentiles but not the saved, the righteous or already religious. The churchgoers were shocked, annoyed and wanted to kill him.
Jesus remained consistent with his message and three years later they tried again to kill him but this time they succeeded.
At the last supper on Holy Thursday, as Jesus poured the water over his disciples’ feet, he was pouring out his life and love for them. His was a kingdom of service.
This was also a symbolic preparation for the end that was approaching so quickly. He was about to leave them but he was also reminding them of his enduring love and his message of service to one another and especially to those in any need.
Story: A story of repentence
"In a town near Paris, was a school for teaching poor homeless boys who are found wandering about the streets of that city and are growing up in idleness and crime.
When one of the boys breaks the rules of the school and deserves punishment, the rest of the school are called together, like a jury, to decide what shall be done with the offender. One of the punishments is confinement for several days in a dungeon, called "the black-hole." The prisoner is put on a short allowance of food, and, of course, forfeits all the liberties of the other boys.
After the boys have, in this way, passed sentence on one of their companions and the master approves of it, this question is put to the rest of the school: "Will any of you become this boy's substitute? i.e., take his place, and bear his punishment, and let him go free? " And it generally happens that some little friend of the criminal comes forward and offers to bear the punishment instead of him. Then the only punishment the real offender has to bear is to carry the bread and water to his friend as long as he is confined in the dungeon. In this way, it generally happens that the most stubborn and hard-hearted boys are melted down, by seeing their companions willingly suffering for them what they know they deserved to suffer themselves.
Not long ago, a boy about nine or ten years old, named Pierre, was received into this school. He was a boy whose temper and conduct were so bad that he had been dismissed from several schools. He behaved pretty well at first; but soon his bad temper broke out, and one day he quarrelled with a boy about his own age, named Louis, and stabbed him in the breast with a knife.
Louis was carried bleeding to his bed. His wound was painful, but not dangerous. The boys were assembled, to consult about what was to be done with Pierre. Louis was a great favourite with the boys, and they all agreed that Pierre should be turned out of the school and never allowed to come back.
This was a very natural sentence under the circumstances, but the master thought it was not a wise one. He said that if Pierre was turned out of school, he would grow worse and worse, and probably end his life on the gallows. He asked them to think again. They then agreed upon a long imprisonment, without saying how long it was to be. They were asked as usual, if any one was willing to go to prison instead of Pierre. A feeble voice was heard, saying-" I will."
To the surprise of every one this proved to be Louis—the wounded boy, who was just getting over the effect of his wound. Louis went to the dungeon and took the place of the boy who had tried to kill him; while Pierre was set at liberty. For many days he went to the prison carrying the bread and water to Louis, but with a feeling of pride and anger in his heart. But at last he could bear it no longer. The sight of his kind-hearted, generous friend, still pale and feeble from the effects of his wound, pining in prison—living on bread and water—and willingly suffering all this for him-who had tried to murder him—this was more than he could bear. His fierce temper and stubborn pride broke down under it. The generous love of Louis had fairly conquered him.
The next day he went to the master, fell down at his feet, and with bitter tears confessed his fault, begged to be for-given, and promised to be a good boy. (The Just for the Unjust)
Today's Prophet:Jeremiah
Jeremiah thought about his life, reflecting on his experience of God calling him. He always seem to be proclaiming bad news. He did not like to be called the prophet of Doom. The whole prophetic thing seemed far too much for him. He thought of himself as a "mere youth" surrounded by others with greater authority and better credentials in the faith community. He was, at first, rather thin-skinned but gradually came to realise that it was the power of God at work in his life that would lead and guide him in his calling. God's promise to him was a great source of his strength and consolation: "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you."
Many of us today can identify with this apprehensive prophet. There is such turmoil in our world, our country, and in our Church. None of us feels "qualified" to be a spokesperson for God because we don't have all the answers. Yet our good God continues to call us to be his voice, his hands and his feet in our world especially for those in need. It is not easy to be brave and speak out but God is present to each one of us, supporting us as we go.
We need to tackle problems like global warming, corruption in high places, national unemployment, poverty, lack of finance, shortages of beds and medical services for those who need them, damage done the people of our church-run institutions, survivors of clerical abuse, discrimination in our churches, abuse and neglect of the elderly. Jeremiah, inspired by God took on the issues of his day - now it is our turn. Be assured, God will be with us in this struggle.
A gentle call to action Jesus did not fit in with the authorities and their ‘vision’ for the Messiah. How many people do not fit our idea of ‘church’ and ‘respectable.’ Who do we look down on? How do we treat people who don't share the fulness of our faiths? It is so easy to judge others and dismiss them for having money or the lack of it, for their affluent and arrogant lives, or their rough lives or work,or legal standing. When was the last time you really helped anyone in trouble as Jesus asked us to?
Tomorrow is a good day to fast and abstain for our sins and the sins of others and the Church.
Prayer
Lord, Through the anointing of your Spirit, Jesus showed us the way to live in your love and compassion. Through our readings and prayers inspire us always to do your will. Open our eyes to our own sinfulness and our need to forgive others their sins and serve them with compassion. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen
Prayer image of the Day
"He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives ...set the downtrodden free." ....Lk 4: 18
And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you will be done."
Jesus remained consistent with his message and three years later they tried again to kill him but this time they succeeded. 
When one of the boys breaks the rules of the school and deserves punishment, the rest of the school are called together, like a jury, to decide what shall be done with the offender. One of the punishments is confinement for several days in a dungeon, called "the black-hole." The prisoner is put on a short allowance of food, and, of course, forfeits all the liberties of the other boys.
To the surprise of every one this proved to be Louis—the wounded boy, who was just getting over the effect of his wound. Louis went to the dungeon and took the place of the boy who had tried to kill him; while Pierre was set at liberty. For many days he went to the prison carrying the bread and water to Louis, but with a feeling of pride and anger in his heart. But at last he could bear it no longer. The sight of his kind-hearted, generous friend, still pale and feeble from the effects of his wound, pining in prison—living on bread and water—and willingly suffering all this for him-who had tried to murder him—this was more than he could bear. His fierce temper and stubborn pride broke down under it. The generous love of Louis had fairly conquered him.
Jeremiah thought about his life, reflecting on his experience of God calling him. He always seem to be proclaiming bad news. He did not like to be called the prophet of Doom. The whole prophetic thing seemed far too much for him. He thought of himself as a "mere youth" surrounded by others with greater authority and better credentials in the faith community. He was, at first, rather thin-skinned but gradually came to realise that it was the power of God at work in his life that would lead and guide him in his calling. God's promise to him was a great source of his strength and consolation: "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you."
