The Gospel episode from Luke is the basis for our celebration of the Jubilee Year 2025. At the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus reads before his own people from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. The oracle speaks of a mysterious figure, the Lord’s “anointed” (Hebrew mesi’ah) who will proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord, which is none other than the “Jubilee year.” Quoting Isaiah, Jesus tells the people that his teaching is the fulfillment of God’s “good news” to the exiles returning to Jerusalem. But his own people fail to recognize this and reject him. His rejection by the people of Nazareth is a foreshadowing of the rejection by Israel, his own people. Yet others will receive him: his disciples, and the Gentiles who are the spiritual children of the pagan widow of Zarephat and Naaman the Syrian.

Jesus makes clear that the Gospel makes no room for privileges. His own are not those with ties to him, whether familial or racial, but those who believe in him and do the will of God. Who are the persons to whom you give “preferential treatment”? Why so?

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

“Lord, I love your commands.”