Untitled Homily (2)

Jesus Returned

Prior to this, Luke’s Gospel has the account of Jesus’ temptation in the desert.

For each of the temptations posed by the Devil, Jesus answers from Scripture — pointing to God and his power, contradicting the Devil at each step. His response, after the Devil offers his all the power and glory of the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would only worship him. And Jesus’ response could be read in 2 ways: “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’ ”

pointing to God himself — or 2) as it turns out turning the tables and pointing to the adoration which is due to Jesus, God Himself, the Son of God in the Blessed Trinity.

Jesus last response is even more obvious in this respect: ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’ ”

A sharp rebuke to the Devil — but the devil doesn’t catch on — and Jesus at that point doesn’t clarify

Our Gospel then makes more sense as to why Jesus returned “in the power of the Spirit.”

— Nazareth - the place where he had grown up, with Joseph and Mary...

— Sabbath day at the Synagogue, the meeting house, were established throughout the Jewish dispersion after the destruction of the Temple in 587 BC

— Jesus — the lector, at what we might recognize as a Liturgy of the Word.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 4

To have fixed on any passage announcing His sufferings (as Is 53:1–12), would have been unsuitable at that early stage of His ministry. But He selects a passage announcing the sublime object of His whole mission, its divine character, and His special endowments for it; expressed in the first person, and so singularly adapted to the first opening of the mouth in His prophetic capacity, that it seems as if made expressly for this occasion. It is from the well-known section of Isaiah’s prophecies whose burden is that mysterious “SERVANT OF THE LORD,” despised of man, abhorred of the nation, but before whom kings on seeing Him are to arise, and princes to worship; in visage more marred than any man and His form than the sons of men, yet sprinkling many nations; laboring seemingly in vain, and spending His strength for naught and in vain, yet Jehovah’s Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and be His Salvation to the ends of the earth (Is 49:1–26

Liberty to captives: Isaiah 61:1

“This scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing” — a bold proclamation that JEsus IS the Suffering Servant — the Messiah.

But the listeners are incredulous — they spoke ighly of him — but he was still, to them, the son of Joseph.

CONSECRATION TO ST JOSEPH

Clearly Jesus had more work to do in his ministry of teaching.

The fruits of this teaching are shown in our first reading — from John’s first letter:

— He first loved us!! God reaches out....

— Love of brother — God’s image, despite stereotypes, hatreds, resentments!

— Believe that Jesus is the Christ begotten by God — and obey His commandments — not just the “BIg 10” but the Law, the Torah, the Word of God.

— Faith conquers the world!! What a promise, what a vision.