RBWords

     These words were spoken by Jesus at his preaching debut in his home town of Nazareth.  He had picked a "messianic" passage from Isaiah about the "suffering servant," read it out to the people and then, in effect, said: "I am that person!" and sat down!  Now that's what I call "in your face" epiphany!  These people had known him since he was a child and his family was still living there.  How could this local carpenter's son (who had moved away to Capernaum) claim to be the fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah?  They were, at first, stunned and then hostile! They would not be the last to react that way!

      That  passage from Isaiah speaks of being anointed by the Spirit to bring glad tidings to the poor, etc.  If we are identified with Jesus and his life, death and resurrection by our baptism, we are also anointed by the Spirit.  We are "commissioned" to exercise the "priesthood of the baptized."  We are to be the fulfillment of that same prophecy.  We are called to put skin on God's Word.  It's not an easy thing to think about since we don't think about our baptismal status much, not even when we touch the holy water at the church door and make the Sign of the Cross!  And if we did think about it, the idea of claiming to be what Jesus claimed to be in Nazareth most likely would not occur to us!  But baptism gives us that challenge.  Get ready to be the epiphany of the Lord!  AMEN