In today’s Gospel Jesus returns to Nazara in Galilee where he grew up. It was early on in his public ministry and he was filled with the Holy Spirit after his baptism in the river Jordan. His fame had spread throughout the countryside after he taught in the synagogues giving witness to the glory of God. On the Sabbath day he attended the synagogue as usual and read from the prophet Isaiah:-
“The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour”
Jesus tells the people that the prophecy of Isaiah was being fulfilled from the very moment he proclaimed the Word of God. Indeed Jesus fulfills the scriptures throughout his entire mission. He follows the will of the Father and works many miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit; healing the sick, forgiving sinners, bringing the Good News to the poor and compassionate love to the brokenhearted.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit we too can witness to the love and compassion of Christ in everything we do. The gift of the Spirit is given to us also at Baptism – the second reading reminds us that we were all baptised in the one Spirit. Through our baptism we became children of God, made in his image and likeness. The Holy Spirit dwells in us from that moment and is reinforced through our Confirmation. The gift of the Spirit is a gift that is meant to be shared and it gives us the courage to say yes to God and to live the Christian life with renewed zeal. Strengthened by the outpouring of the Spirit in our lives, we can love as Christ did by the witness we give to others. As our advocate and guide the Spirit intercedes for us to the Father and comes to help us when we experience struggles along the way, directing our hearts to his unconditional love and mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. God gives us his sanctifying love and reveals himself in all his glory through the power of the Spirit, thus confirming his presence in our lives in a real and tangible way. In this way we can come to trust him more and more, growing in a personal and intimate relationship with him and sharing in His life and love.
