Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
In today’s reading we hear Jesus reading from scripture on the Sabbath. He quotes the prophet Isaiah. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)
As I let these words sink in, they remind me of a jubilee year proclaimed in the bible, and this year, by the Church. In a jubilee year, according to scripture, there is forgiveness of debt, liberation of captives and a declaration of liberty and rest. People are reminded to think about what is important in life, that all were created equally and that they should thank God for what has been given to them – to start anew.
In his papal bull announcing the jubilee year Pope Francis has called us to be “Pilgrims of Hope.” Hope gives us the ability to move forward, to look for the good, to seek out a better tomorrow.
Spend some time reading “Pilgrims of Hope”. Read the papal bull here. Think about how you can spread the Good News that Jesus has proclaimed today. How can you give hope to others? How can you touch someone’s life to bring them hope for a better tomorrow? Think about those who are “captive” or “oppressed” in some way; how can you reach out to them and give them hope? How can you spread peace and hope to our troubled world?
This is also a jubilee year for us, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. We were founded 150 years ago in Rome. Our Foundress. Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, had a great love for God’s word and the Church. And called us to be beacons of hope for families. One hundred and fifty years later we still strive to promote the spirit of the Holy Family that brought hope to the world.
May we all be blessed this jubilee year.
Sister Rebecca Sullivan, CSFN
