Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Today Is The Time Of Grace
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
Year II. Paul reminds his Corinthians that he had preached them the simple, uncomplicated message of the crucified Christ. That was a message of faith, not of human wisdom.
Gospel. From now on until Advent begins, we shall read the gospel of Luke, the evangelist who pays special attention to the Holy Spirit, the mercy of God, Jesus’ special concern for the poor, the role of women in the life of Jesus, and the liturgy. Luke presents his gospel in the form of a journey from Nazareth in Galilee to Jerusalem. Today we hear about the beginning of the so-called public life of Jesus, his program set for him by the Spirit. He announces salvation as starting “today” with his teaching and working among the people. For us too, the time of grace is today, in our time, with the Lord working and living among us now.
Opening Prayer
God, Father of mercy and love,
you let your Son announce to us
that today is the time of grace.
Let his Spirit be upon us today,
that in the poverty of our own hearts
we may hear Jesus’ stirring message,
that blind as we are, he may give us eyes of faith,
and that he may set us free
from the captivity of our fears and selfishness.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Prayers of the Faithful
– Lord, give eloquence and courage to our leaders and all teachers in the Church, that they may understand it and proclaim it as good news of liberation to all, we pray:
– Lord, open our eyes to the miseries of people; make us concerned about those imprisoned in their fears and the grip of injustice, we pray:
– Lord, make us receptive to your word. Free us from banality and fear, our self-security and certainties, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
it is perhaps easier for us
to accept your Son as our Saviour and Lord
than the people who knew him
as the son of Joseph and Mary.
Help us to recognise him here in our midst
in these signs of bread and wine.
Accept this offering of our faith
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
through his words and his body
your Son Jesus Christ is alive among us.
Fill us with his Holy Spirit,
that we too, with him and in his name,
may bring his good news to the poor,
proclaim liberty to captives,
open the eyes of the blind
and set the downtrodden free.
Let this be to all the time of the grace
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Today, with Jesus alive among us in our community, we should also be ready to say with Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon us. He sends us to bring good news to the poor.” May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Luke 4: 16-30
God’s Mercy has no borders
Nazareth was the town where Jesus grew up. It was not a forgotten village, but a lively town on the slopes of Galilee. From its hills one could see the history of Israel spread out like a map: the battlefields of Deborah and Gideon, the vineyard of Naboth, Mount Carmel where Elijah called down fire from heaven. Caravans passed by on the great roads, pilgrims walked toward Jerusalem, soldiers marched under the Roman eagle. From the beginning, Jesus lived at a crossroads of peoples and histories.
It was there, in the synagogue of Nazareth, that Jesus first announced his mission. He read from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… He has sent me to bring good news to the poor.” At first, the people were amazed. But when Jesus reminded them that God’s mercy had also touched foreigners—the widow of Zarephath, Naaman the Syrian—their amazement turned into anger. How could this young man, whom they had known since childhood, speak as if God’s love extended beyond the boundaries of Israel?
This is the scandal of mercy: God’s love is always greater than our calculations. It breaks down our walls, it embraces those we would exclude.
Two lessons stand out. First, Jesus faithfully went to the synagogue every Sabbath. Even when worship was imperfect, he prayed with his people. We too are called to remain faithful to our community, even with its weaknesses, because God still meets us there.
Second, Jesus brings Good News. John the Baptist proclaimed judgment; Jesus reveals the tenderness of the Father. He comes not to condemn, but to free, to heal, to restore.
The question for us is simple: Can we rejoice that God’s mercy knows no borders?