Luke 4: 14-22
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Jesus Walks With Us
Heartbreak. Illness. Mistreatment. Failure. Most likely these are not on the list of things which we wish to happen to us in 2026. Yet we know that they are an integral part of human experience. There is a good chance that we, or someone we know very well, will suffer greatly this year. Of course, we all hope that is not the case. Jesus, filled with the Spirit after rebuking the temptations of the devil in the desert, speaks his first words of ministry in today’s Gospel from Luke. The Spirit has led him to reach out to those who are suffering—the poor, captives, the blind, the oppressed. His words are to console them, to let them know that they are not alone. He is the promised Messiah. Jesus announces to those in the synagogue that he will walk with them in their suffering, something he proves throughout the Gospel. He walks with us too in our suffering. So, if, or when, suffering visit us this year, let us turn to “God, our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1).
—Rev. Paul J. Shelton, SJ, is the provincial assistant for vocations for the Midwest Jesuits. If you are interested in becoming a Jesuit or know a young man who would be a good Jesuit, please visit beajesuit.org.
Prayer
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with
the Lord. Scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In
each, I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were
two sets of footprints; other times there was only one.
During the low periods of my life I could see only one set of
footprints, so I said, "You promised me, Lord, that you would
walk with me always. Why, when I have needed you most,
have you not been there for me?"
The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set
of footprints, my child, is when I carried you."
—Footprints in the Sand, often attributed to Mary Stevenson
Pray with the Pope
Pray with the monthly prayer intentions of the pope.