As I reflect on the message of today’s Gospel (see Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21), the word “authority” comes to my mind. In the first part of the Gospel, St. Luke confidently explains his purpose and the authority he had for writing his Testament. Later, in the same reading, we find that St. Luke portrays a Jesus who unquestioningly pronounced his Messianic authority by the way he preached in the Nazarean synagogue about himself, and in reference to the Old Testament Scriptures.
It’s no coincidence that our Church begins this “Ordinary Time” of the year with these reminders of Scriptural and Messianic authority. As Christians, and as member of the Church, we strive and hope to give assent to both! When we contemplate today’s Gospel, we can then reflect upon our own lives of faith, and the confidence we place in this Jesus who is our Messiah; we also have trust for the words of the Scriptures and the way they teach us how to follow him.
When Jesus revealed to the people who he was, he boldly quoted Scriptures and the words of the Prophet Isaiah as he proclaimed that he had come to serve the needy . . . “to bring glad tidings to the poor . . . to proclaim liberty to captives . . . to give sight to the blind . . . to let the oppressed go free . . . and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (cf. Isaiah 61:1-2). Because of our Christian faith, we understand that Jesus certainly has the power and the authority to do just these things. We also understand that because we are now his followers, we likewise share in his mission to serve other people and to accomplish these things during our own lives. Isn’t it true that there are many authoritative passages from the Scriptures that challenge and empower us with this message?
And so my brothers and sisters, by the way we live our lives, may we be effective witnesses to the power and authority of Jesus himself. It is he who always serves others, and he who is our Lord and Messiah! As in the days when Jesus walked the face of the earth, may the Scriptures always enlighten us and guide us in the ways of our faith. And of course, may we always respect the teaching authority of our Church as we put our faith into practice. Together may we faithfully discern the authoritative words of the Scriptures and the message about Jesus contained therein!
Let us thank our God for the powerful witness and authority of St. Luke and all of those who contributed to the writing and to the compilation of the Scriptures. And may we as individuals and as a community remain dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ who by his Messianic authority always demands that we place ourselves in service to those who are most needy!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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