The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our petition to God for assistance and joy in proclaiming liberty and sight to those threatened by darkness.
The reading from the First Letter of John declares that Faith Conquers the World.
* [5:1–5] Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 Jn 4:7–9) and for God (1 Jn 5:1–2) but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God’s commands (1 Jn 5:3), is the source of the Christian’s power in the world and conquers the world of evil (1 Jn 5:4–5), even as Christ overcame the world (Jn 16:33). (1 John, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 72 is a prayer for Guidance and Support for the King.
* [Psalm 72] A royal Psalm in which the Israelite king, as the representative of God, is the instrument of divine justice (Ps 72:1–4, 12–14) and blessing (Ps 72:5–7, 15–17) for the whole world. The king is human, giving only what he has received from God. Hence intercession must be made for him. The extravagant language is typical of oriental royal courts. (Psalms, PSALM 72 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke describes the Beginning of the Galilean Ministry and the Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth.
* [4:16–30] Luke has transposed to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry an incident from his Marcan source, which situated it near the end of the Galilean ministry (Mk 6:1–6a). In doing so, Luke turns the initial admiration (Lk 4:22) and subsequent rejection of Jesus (Lk 4:28–29) into a foreshadowing of the whole future ministry of Jesus. Moreover, the rejection of Jesus in his own hometown hints at the greater rejection of him by Israel (Acts 13:46).
* [4:16] According to his custom: Jesus’ practice of regularly attending synagogue is carried on by the early Christians’ practice of meeting in the temple (Acts 2:46; 3:1; 5:12).
* [4:18] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me: see note on Lk 3:21–22. As this incident develops, Jesus is portrayed as a prophet whose ministry is compared to that of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. Prophetic anointings are known in first-century Palestinian Judaism from the Qumran literature that speaks of prophets as God’s anointed ones. To bring glad tidings to the poor: more than any other gospel writer Luke is concerned with Jesus’ attitude toward the economically and socially poor (see Lk 6:20, 24; 12:16–21; 14:12–14; 16:19–26; 19:8). At times, the poor in Luke’s gospel are associated with the downtrodden, the oppressed and afflicted, the forgotten and the neglected (Lk 4:18; 6:20–22; 7:22; 14:12–14), and it is they who accept Jesus’ message of salvation.
* [4:21] Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing: this sermon inaugurates the time of fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Luke presents the ministry of Jesus as fulfilling Old Testament hopes and expectations (Lk 7:22); for Luke, even Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection are done in fulfillment of the scriptures (Lk 24:25–27, 44–46; Acts 3:18). (Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rashmi Fernando, S.J. comments that God’s commandments are not burdensome but life-giving. By loving our neighbors, we not only fulfill God’s will but also experience the joy and freedom of living in harmony with ourselves, with each other, with creation, and ultimately with God Himself. Hence, our faith in God is emancipating, helping us conquer the world and overcome its narrow ways, transforming it into a place of hope, compassion, and love.
As we reflect on the readings today, especially looking toward the New Year ahead, let us ask: Who is my neighbor in need of love today? It might be someone struggling with loneliness, a family facing financial hardship, or a community overlooked by society, such as migrants and refugees. The call is clear: to make this year acceptable to the Lord, what must I do to serve and uplift those who are most in need? (Fernando, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Christ brings hope of release from spiritual bondage,” by Eusebius of Caesarea, 260/263-340 AD.
"'The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me' (Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1). Clearly this happened to those who thought that the Christ of God was neither a mere man nor an unfleshed and unembodied Word who did not take on a mortal nature. Instead they say he is both God and human, God in that he is the only-begotten God who was in the bosom of the Father, and man... from the seed of David according to the flesh (Luke 1:32). Thus, God the Word, who through the prophecy has been called Lord, speaks out this prophecy that is preeminent among other promises: 'I am the Lord, and in the right time I will draw them together'...
"Taking the chrism in the Holy Spirit, he, chosen from among all, appears as the only-begotten Christ of God. And the verse 'he has sent me to proclaim good news to the poor' (Luke 4:18), he fulfilled in that time when he 'was preaching the kingdom of heaven' and explaining the beatitudes to the disciples by saying, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God' (Matthew 5:3)... And for those nations then imprisoned in their souls by the invisible and spiritual powers he preached release to his newly encouraged disciples... Therefore, he preached release to the prisoners and to those suffering from blindness who were those enslaved by the error of polytheism, and he creates a year that is acceptable, through which he made all time his own year. And from the passing years of humanity he provides days of created light for those close to him. He never kept hidden the age that is to come after the perfecting of the present. For that age will be a time much on the Lord's mind, being an age and day of requiting. For he will grant a change of fortune or a year of favor to those struggling in the present life." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 2.51.5)
[Eusebius of Caesarea (260/263-340) was a bishop, Scripture scholar and first historian of the Christian church.] (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 John 4:19–5:4 comments that we don’t have to do things out of fear of punishment or out of a sense of duty. Instead, God wants to move us to obey his commandments because we know in our hearts how much he loves us and how much he desires what is best for us.
Of course, we all battle temptations and give in to weakness and sin. Even in such times, however, you don’t have to despair. Instead, remember: Jesus loved you first! Just as a parent loves their newborn child, God doesn’t love you for what you do but for who you are. He understands your struggles, and he is always ready and willing to pour out his grace on you to help you keep his commandments. He knows how much you want to please him, and he will give you whatever you need to love him in return!
“Lord, help me to never lose sight of your great love for me! (Meditation on 1 John 4:19–5:4, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler connects some of the short sayings in the passage from 1 John to the fight against Docetism that held our spiritual nature to be far more important than our material being. Our acceptance of the message of Love for the material world will be seen in how we keep the Commandments. Friar Jude Winkler reminds us of the connection of the Jubilee Year in Hebrew tradition to justice and the reordering of society.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces theologian Sallie McFague (1933–2019) who centers compassionate change in a passionate love for God.
Those who have followed Jesus most radically, regardless of their other errors and failings—people like Paul, Augustine, Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, John Woolman, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Dorothy Day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and many others less well known—passionately loved both God and the world (and everything in it).… These people seem to know no limits, either in their outrageous intimacy with God nor with their borderless love for all living things. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)
We are challenged by the seemingly enormous task of countering the trends toward isolation and self-serving policies and we implore God to revive the Spirit of Love in our environment.
References
Fernando, R. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved January 9, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/010925.html
Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 9, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?14
Meditation on 1 John 4:19–5:4. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 9, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/09/1176649/
1 John, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 9, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/5
Psalms, PSALM 72 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 9, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/72?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Movement of Love and Liberation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 9, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-movement-of-love-and-liberation/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 9, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan9
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