FIRST READING
“He who loves God should love his brother also.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint John (1 John 4: 19-5:4)
Beloved: We love God, because he first loved us. If any one says, “I love God” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also. Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the one begotten by him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 72: 1-2.14 and 15cd, 17 (R. see 11)
R/. All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
O God, give your judgement to the king,
to a king’s son your justice,
that he may judge your people in justice,
and your poor in right judgement. R.
From oppression and violence he redeems their souls;
to him their blood is dear.
They shall pray for him without ceasing,
and bless him all the day. R.
May his name endure forever,
his name continue like the sun.
Every tribe shall be blest in him,
all nations shall call him blessed. R.
ALLELUIA Luke 4: 18
Alleluia. Alleluia. The Lord has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 4:14-22a)
At that time: Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as was his custom, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today Reflection
In Matthew 28:18, Jesus declares that all authority has been given to him. That comes from the anointing of the spirit of the lord upon him. With such authority accompanying us, we can join Jesus to be victorious over the forces of evil and better reveal the face of God on earth. Luckily that authority does not end with Jesus. He promises his disciples that when he goes, if they love God and keep His commandments, the Holy Spirit will come upon them (John 14:15-25), and they will receive power (Acts 1:8). Your faith in God’s love will help you keep those commandments. Such faith enables us to be called God’s children (John 1:12). Do you possess such faith?