THE WORD
Start spreading the Good News Lk1:1-4; 4: 14-21
It’s no wonder the people are astonished. Here is one of their own, the son of a local carpenrer, making such an extraordinary statement, and making it with such authority and conviction. Quoting a text from the prophet Isaiah, Jesus tells them that the spirit of the Lord is upon him, and has anointed him to bring good news to the afflicted. And what amazing good news it is; far better than the boldest manifesto of even the most ambitious political party! Liberty to captives, sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed, a year of favour from the Lord. And unlike political manifestoes, this isn’t an empty pledge. This is happening, Jesus tells them, right now, even as he speaks.
It’s the kind of good news everyone longs to hear and wants to believe-an end to suffering, to selfishness,and to all that weighs them down, the promise of a new way of living and relating, the assurance of a new kind of world.
And the amazing thing is that making this good news happen is not hard at all. All one has to do is to listen to Jesus, to heed what he says, and to try to follow him faithfully.

• The good news that Jesus announced to the people of Nazareth all those centuries ago he announces to us too
  We are all called to proclaim the good news
  The Christian is one who follows the example of Jesus

PRAY
There are so many people in our society today who feel lost, broken, burdened. Remember them today. Pray for them.

DO
Make a point of telling people only good news this week. Try to be grateful for all the good things in your life.

Look at the front page of a typical tabloid newspaper. Invariably the headline screams out for justice on behalf of some group or other. It may be about how the elderly are treated. Or about some alleged paedophile, or a patient who has been left on a hospital trolley for hours on end. Whatever the headline, it’s rarely good news. Good news dosen’t sell newspapers.
For some strange reason many of us revel in expressing our indignation about matters that often have nothing directly to do with us. It’s as if it is a release mechanism for pent up frustration or fear.
So how do we respond to what Jesus has to say in today’s Gospel? How does it make us feel to hear him say that those in prison are going to be set free? Have we ever thought about what this might mean and can we rejoice in it?
As a society we struggle with the notion that somebody might be given something for nothing or that they should get off lightly when thay have committed a crime. We want punishment, justice, vengeance.
But this not the way of Jesus. The good news he proclaims is that we will be released from all that blinds us. Mercy and compassion will be shown to all and all are called to show mercy and compassion. This is dangerous because we are being asked to stand up for those who in the normal course of events we may want to ignore or push away.
It is challenging because the good news that Jesus offers us is what we are called to offer others. People will fix their eyes on us and look to see if we are really who we say we are- people at ease with proclaiming the Lord’s year of favour.

Posted in Sunday Message