Who is most excellent Theophilus? Apparently, St. Luke has addressed this Gospel to one identified as Theophilus. In fact, Luke, whose Gospel we will hear proclaimed for most of the rest of this year, also addressed his other book of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, to this same Theophilus. So who is Theophilus? Most likely, Theophilus is you and me. The name Theophilus in Greek can be translated as friend of God or one who loves God. Who here today is not a friend of God, who here today does not love God?
A couple of weeks ago, when we reflected on the Baptism of the Lord, we asked the question: why did Jesus insist he be baptized? We knew that Jesus would not need baptism like we need baptism but perhaps we recall that Jesus did first what we must do.
Today's Gospel reading reminds us again that we must do what Jesus did first. In this reading we find Jesus being faithful as he attends synagogue on the Sabbath. His actions reinforce what we must do. We are all called to be at Mass on the Lord's Day. Indeed, you and I are here today. Perhaps we know someone not at Mass today; perhaps there is one person that we can reach out to and help them find their way back home to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In the synagogue at Nazareth, and what we heard in today's 1st reading, Scripture is very important in the worship of God. Ezra read plainly from the Law and the people were moved so deeply that they were moved to tears and then they experienced great joy. We ask ourselves, when was the last time Scripture moved us, when was the last time Scripture moved us to tears, when was the last time Scripture gave us great joy!
Jesus took the scroll from Isaiah, his favorite prophet, and proclaimed what was prophesied about Him. The Spirit of the Lord is upon Him, He brings glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, the oppressed go free! And then Jesus says, today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
At every Sunday Mass you and I attend we will hear several readings from Scripture. We hear from the Old and New Testament, we pray a Psalm, we hear the Gospel proclaimed. This is huge. In a three year cycle, we hear a substantial amount of all that is contained in the Bible. If you can add daily Mass to our Sunday's we hear even more. And the really good news is that we are not limited in hearing, praying and studying Scripture at Mass. No, we can and should read Scripture everyday at home, attend lectures on Scripture, join a Bible Study. Here at St. Jane almost 70 adults have been attending Bible Study since September. Yes, the Bible is for us Catholics because the Catholic Church has been entrusted by our Lord to preach and teach the Holy Word!
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ, so said St. Jerome, the father of the Bible from the 4th century.
And what should we do when we hear this Holy Word proclaimed? We must act upon it. If Jesus did first what we must do, and He did, then we too are called to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, be light to others so those blinded by sin may see, and we proclaim loud and proud: this is an acceptable time; this is an acceptable year.
As a friend of God, and one who loves God, have we participated fully yet in this Year of Mercy? Have we practiced forgiveness? Have we forgiven another? Have we asked for forgiveness? Have we prayed to God to help us show mercy in or everyday lives? This we can and must do.
Remember, these readings were written for you and me, Theophilus, friend of God and lover of God. Remember, Jesus always did first what we must do. Remember, His words are Spirit and Life. Hear His word, pray with His word, be His word, do His word!
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