Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Reynaldo Jimenez SVD – SVD Retreat House, Baguio City
Monday 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Photo: Tabernacle in St Bernard Parish, Kinshasa, Congo
In the Gospel today Jesus announces that he has “the Spirit of the Lord.” What does it mean “to have the Spirit of the Lord”?
It means Jesus does not only have the “good news” but proclaims himself as the good news. His actions are all about forgiveness, healing and blessing. He came to show the world a better future, where we can continually become better. Mistakes of the past and present do not condemn us; rather they challenge us to embrace positive change.
The Lord also exhorts us to extend a helping hand. He gave us a concrete program of action where the poor are front and center. He also warned us against feeling “self-important and self-righteous.” Instead He gave us an example of a humble and just servant. In short, he gave us a glimpse of the Kingdom of God.
The future is ultimately God’s, not ours. As Fr. Dela Costa puts it, “(this is the reason) why we need to nurture faith in the midst of the unexpected: But that is the way God gives. His gifts are never quite what we expect but always something better, something far better than we hope for… Now more than ever, living in times so troubled, facing a future so uncertain, we need such faith. We need it for ourselves and we need to give it to others.”
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