Monday, Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time, Year C
First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.
Reflection: Paul addresses the Thessalonians’ concerns about those who have died, assuring them that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the faithful will rise to meet the Lord. This hope in Christ’s return offers comfort, encouraging believers to support one another with the promise of eternal life in God’s presence, fostering trust in His divine plan.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13
Reflection: This psalm calls all creation to sing praise to God, celebrating His wondrous deeds and sovereignty. The Lord’s coming to judge the earth with justice and constancy inspires joy, as His righteous rule surpasses all false gods, inviting the faithful to proclaim His glory among the nations.
Alleluia: See Luke 4:18
Reflection: Jesus is anointed by the Spirit to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to captives, and sight to the blind. This verse underscores His mission of salvation, inviting the faithful to embrace His call to compassion and liberation, preparing them for the Gospel’s revelation of His prophetic role.
Gospel: Luke 4:16-30
Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
Reflection: In Nazareth, Jesus proclaims Himself the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, anointed to liberate the poor and oppressed. Despite initial amazement, His townspeople reject Him, illustrating the prophet’s challenge. Jesus persists, referencing Elijah and Elisha, showing God’s mercy extends beyond Israel, undeterred by rejection in His mission of salvation.
