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3rd Sunday in OT - January 23, 2022

For fifty years the Jewish people had been exiled in Babylon.  Most of the people gathered around Ezra, the priest, that day after their return, had never worshipped in Jerusalem before, never worshipped in so large a gathering, never worshipped in public.  They are hearing God’s word proclaimed openly for the first time in their lives.  Even the older people could barely recall what it was like before their exile.  Many wondered if the day would ever come.  What joy it must have inspired.

Luke, alone among all the evangelists, set this account at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry as he came to his home town of Nazareth.  According to his custom, he goes into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.  He reads from the prophet Isaiah.  This sets the tone for his ministry.  Jesus announces the prophecies of glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and a year acceptable to the Lord.  This refers to a once in every fifty year event, during which debts are forgiven, slaves freed, and land reverted to its original owners, or heirs.  What an astonishing claim.  Jesus’ ministry went on to fulfill this ultimate reversal of circumstances.

For weeks, or months, or over a year since the pandemic we, maybe, were unable to join in communal worship.  Hopefully all of us will soon be able to return and rejoice.  Many still are only able to pray virtually on the live-streaming of the Mass.  What a blessing it will be when everyone will be able to listen to the word of God and partake personally in the Eucharistic feast.

Love, Peace, Joy,

Fr. Bob

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