Share the Mission

It was early in Jesus’ public ministry. He had returned to Galilee after his temptation in the desert and taught in the synagogues. The people were amazed by his teachings and his reputation began to grow. He returned home to Nazareth and, as was his custom, went to the synagogue there. It was the synagogue he had been going to since he was a child. He was among family and his reputation proceeded him home. All waited in anticipation to see if what they had been hearing was true.

They gave him the honor of reading from the scroll. Just as Ezra the priest did in the first reading, Jesus stood, opened the scroll and read a passage from Isaiah. It was a passage that the people knew very well. It was the passage where God promised to send his Messiah to restore the people. They were amazed by the way Jesus read from the scroll because he read with authority. Then he left the people stunned when he announced that he was the Messiah promised in Isaiah.

How could this be? This was Jesus. This was the boy they saw grow up among them. The same boy who learned the carpentry trade from his father. How could he be the Messiah? Nothing special ever came from Nazareth. The people in Nazareth were both amazed and bewildered. They found it difficult to believe that Jesus really was the Messiah.

The scripture verse Jesus read was fitting, for it announced to the people what his mission was going to be. He was the good news promised so very long ago. His would be a ministry of love to the poor. He would bring healing and he would free them from their sins.

Through our baptisms we become part of the body of Christ and as such we share in his mission today. We are his hands and feet and voice. We are to serve the poor and those held captive by the slavery of desire for things of this world. We are to be Jesus to those who have never seen him and we are called to forgive as we are forgiven. We continue the good work that Jesus began and we are to continue that mission until he returns.

My father suffered constantly from crippling rheumatoid arthritis. Yet, there was never a doctor, nurse, caretaker, or fellow patient he did not leave without a smile on their face. He understood the importance of making people feel loved and he strived to do so always regardless of the constant pain. We all are part of the body of Christ and it doesn’t matter if we are a hand, a foot, or a voice, we all are the face of Christ to those we meet every day. You may be the only face of Christ someone will look upon in this life. Will they be able to recognize Jesus when they stand before him by your example?

Be the reason a stranger smiles today.