The Gospel reading for this Sunday is from two different chapters of St. Luke’s Gospel – the beginning of Chapter 1 and the middle of Chapter 4.  The first set of verses stressed how and why the Good News came to be written. The second set of verses stressed the core of the Good News, a thumbnail of what the Good News was all about.

 

In the first part, Luke is addressing a person named Theophilus whose name means “Lover of God”.  Luke is explaining why he has decided to write his gospel; “after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.” (Lk 1:3-4).  

 

In the second part of gospel, Jesus stands up and reads from the prophet Isaiah. It was a passage about the coming Messiah. Here he is announcing himself as the Messiah as he applies the words to himself “the spirit of the Lord has been given to me”. What follows is what we might call a “mission statement” of his kingdom - bringing good news to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, etc.

 

How have you experienced the Good News in your life? How have you seen the power of the Spirit in this experience?

 

Deacon Joe Trevino

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX