Working for the Word

Focusing the Gospel

Key words and phrases: have been fulfilled, investigating everything accurately anew, realize the certainty, power of the Spirit, bring glad tidings, fulfilled in your hearing

To the point: Luke portrays Jesus as One who had a clear understanding of who he was and his mission. Who he was: the One “in the power of the Spirit.” His mission: “to bring glad tidings” to the poor, captives, blind, oppressed. Luke also had a clear understanding of who he was and his mission: he investigated “everything accurately anew” in order to proclaim the Good News. From the very beginning, what Jesus came to fulfill has been observed, treasured, handed down. Now we ourselves are to be the bearers of the Good News so that others may “realize the certainty” of the story we have received.

Connecting the Gospel …

… to the First Reading: Nehemiah provides details that assure the people the words proclaimed by Ezra were, indeed, the words of God. As Jesus proclaimed glad tidings “in the power of the Spirit,” so must our proclamation of the Good News come from the Spirit who dwells within us. The details of our daily living must assure others that the words we proclaim are, indeed, from God.

… to experience: We are all familiar with the power of words to shape our identity and way of life. Society offers conflicting messages that often pull us in many directions. In the midst of all these competing words, God’s word is the true source of our identity as Christian people.
 

**From Saint Louis University