Lk. 1:1-4, 4: 14-21
Today’s gospel also presents to us a manifesto; a manifesto that changed the world; a manifesto that promises liberation to people belonging to all walks of life. This manifesto of Jesus that is recorded by Isaiah a few centuries before Jesus’ birth. I believe, even today this manifesto has the strength to transform our societies. Let us analyze this manifesto.
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” Jesus himself was the Good News and always had a heart for the poor, the last, the least and the lost. The Good News that he shared with the underprivileged was a conscientization that they were not alone in their struggles, God is present with those who are struggling. “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Here captivity is not mere physical captivity but it has a spiritual dimension too. Various gospel accounts present to us the liberation given by Jesus to those who were possessed by the evil, those who were slaves of sin and shame etc.
“Sight to the blind,” invites us to reflect along the line of going beyond physical beauty and to witness the marvels God has done in their lives. “Let the oppressed go free,” many of his contemporaries thought that he would liberate Israel from the Roman slavery by leading a revolution against Romans but his revolution was on the cross, a sacrifice that could liberate us from all forms of slavery. Finally, ‘All those who looked at him would be radiant.’ As followers of Christ, we are called to live this manifesto in our day-to-day life. Let us embrace this path of love and continue to build his kingdom. Like Jesus, may this manifesto being fulfilled in our lives.