01.21.25 - Jesus Preaches in Nazareth & the Last 3 Sacraments

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come together tonight to learn, to grow, and to change. We lay our lives down before you and ask that you move amongst us. Stir up our thoughts and grant us the wisdom and grace to love and forgive like You.

As You taught us to pray together…

Our Father Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily Bread;

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Upcoming major holy days:       Lent begins Ash Wednesday, March 5

Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19.

TODAY: 

·        New Liturgical Year C. What is liturgy? Who is Luke?

·        Reading for the 3rd Sun in Ordinary Time (1/26) – Intro to Luke 1:1-4, Jesus returns to Nazareth 4:14-21

·        Sacraments of Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick

Quote of the Week:

People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7

And so should we! This was 3000 years ago. Wisdom never ages!

The Church’s calendar is referred to as the “Liturgical Year,” which comes from Liturgy.   

What is Liturgy?

The term “liturgy” originates from the Greek and means “public works” or “service on behalf of the people.” In the context of the Catholic Church, it signifies the participation of the people of God in the work of God, particularly through the sacraments and the communal prayer of the Church. The liturgy serves to sanctify the faithful, allowing them to encounter Christ in a profound way.

Just FYI, though the primary use of “liturgy” is the celebration of the Mass/the Eucharist, we also use it for things like the Liturgical Calendar. However, in the Eastern Church the word liturgy only refers to the celebration of the Eucharist (they do not use the word Mass).

Each Liturgical Year begins with Advent and continues on as shown clockwise below.

The Mass readings for the Liturgical Year follows a 3-year cycle (A, B, C). Year A is Matthew, B is Mark, and C is Luke. The fourth Gospel – John – is dispersed throughout the year, every year.

We finished Year B (Mark) a month and a half ago and are beginning the Gospel of Luke (Year C).

The Liturgical Year/Calendar is actually full of detail about the celebration of the saints and other holy days.

We are in Year C, the Gospel of Luke

About Luke

Was Luke an Apostle?

            No. 

Was Luke Jewish? What was his skill or profession?

            It is believed he had mixed parentage (Greek and Jewish) and converted to Judaism. He was a physician.

What apostle did Luke follow?

            It appears he followed St. Peter early in Acts, but then became St. Paul’s companion for the rest of Acts.

Who is Luke’s audience? Who is he writing to?

            Gentiles (as well as Jews). This is in contrast to Matthew, who wrote primarily to the Jews using extensive Old Testament references and terminology.  

Did Luke write any other books in the New Testament?

            Yes, Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles.

Between the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, Luke wrote 25% of the New Testament.

Who wrote more of the new Testament, Luke or Paul?

     Paul wrote the most books (13 of the 27 NT books). Luke wrote the most volume (total words).

When did Luke write his Gospel?

            Most likely in the 60s before Paul and Peter were executed by Nero. This is supported by the close connection between Luke’s Gospel and its sequel, Acts of the Apostles, which ends abruptly with Paul’s arrest in Rome around AD 62.

Name a unique characteristic we find in the Gospel of Luke. 

            What is unique in Luke’s Gospel is the prominence of women, beginning with Mary – perhaps because of Mary. Luke writes more about Mary than the other Gospels combined. Some have called Luke’s book the Gospel of Mary, for he alone writes of the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Magnificat, Jesus’ circumcision and Presentation at the Temple, finding Jesus in the Temple at age 12, and the numerous references to “Mary pondered…” and “Mary kept these things in her heart.”  The only way Luke could have written about any of these events is if Mary shared them.

Tradition has it that Mary lived into the 50s and was a constant consolation and encouragement to the Apostles throughout their missionary lives. Once Luke decided to write his Gospel (likely at the urging of Paul), no doubt he made a beeline to John’s home where Mary was, to get started. We are indebted to Luke, for without him, we would not have these stories about the young Jesus.

The majority of the New Testament took place in these regions around the Mediterranean.

Reading for Sunday, Intro to Luke 1:1-4, Jesus returns to Nazareth 4:14-21

Context:  Sunday’s reading gives us the very beginning of Luke’s Gospel and then jumps over to Chapter 4 when Jesus first preaches in his hometown of Nazareth. What it skips in between are events we have already covered in recent weeks – the birth of John the Baptist, the birth of Jesus, and the Baptism of Jesus by John. After reading all of it, we will investigate several key verses.

Luke 1:1-4

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

Luke 4:14-21

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.He 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."

Exegesis = Interpretation/Explanation

Luke’s Intro 1:1-4

1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us…

We can see here that Luke is not the first. Others already written are likely the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and many of Paul’s letters/epistles.

3 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

Who is Theophilus?

            Theophilus means Lover of God (Theo=God + philus =love). Therefore, Luke’s Gospel may be addressed to all of us, which would make sense. That doesn’t rule out the possibility that there is someone named Theophilius (if so, perhaps a benefactor and/or someone in authority). Regardless, Luke writes primarily to the non-Jewish audience so they can better understand the Gospel. That would be contrasted with Matthew, which is written for those with a Jewish background.

Luke 4:14-21 Jesus returns to Nazareth

14 Jesus returned to Galilee …  

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River down in the region of Judah. Why did he then go up to Galilee to preach?

This is important. The prophecies of Isaiah stated that the Messiah would be called Emmanuel (“God is with us”), would born of a virgin, and would come as a light to all Israel. A parallel passage in Matthew 4:15-16 goes into further detail, specifying 1) he would go to the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali and 2) also the gentile region east of the Jordan. Why?

1)     Zebulun and Naphtali refers to the lost northern kingdom of Israel who were conquered and dispersed by the Assyrians 700 years earlier. The Messiah was to come and gather them back to the Lord. This is why Jesus went to this region, to fulfill this promise.   

2)     The reference to the gentile region speaks to universal salvation, not only to the people of God living in Galilee but to the Gentiles living on the east side of the Jordan who will also come to hear Jesus (see Mt 4:25; Mk 5:20; 7:31).

Besides this historical reason, there was a strategic reason for beginning His ministry in the Galilee. Two of the great international trade routes passed through or by the Galilee (see red lines below): the Via Maris traveled from Egypt along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea up into the Galilee and beyond into Syria, Mesopotamia and Asia Minor; and King's Highway came out of Mesopotamia through Damascus and passed to the east of the Galilee to meet up with Via Maris. In other words, Jesus didn't have to work very hard to find people to hear His Gospel message as there were literally crowds of people traveling these trade routes, especially at the time of the 3 required pilgrimage Holy Day festivals.

Via Maris and The King’s Highway

14 … and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

Why is this verse useful for our understanding of what happens next in Nazareth?

Jesus’ preaching and healing miracles were so powerful that news began to precede him wherever he went. Therefore, anticipation and expectations were already present in Nazareth when he arrived there. You can imagine they thought:  “This is Jesus’ home-town! Just imagine what he will do for us!” But that wasn’t what Jesus came for.  

16 He 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.

How was it that Jesus was given the scrolls in the synagogue to read?

It was the job of the leader of the Synagogue to decide who would read Scripture from the scrolls. The same person was also expected to give some commentary about the readings afterwards. Jesus’ publicized return to Nazareth made him an easy choice for the synagogue leader. It was customary in those times that readings were given standing up (like today) but the commentary was given sitting down (unlike today!). That’s why Jesus sat down and everyone looked at him. They were waiting for his comments on his reading.

17 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.

Jesus is handed the scroll of Isaiah and he chooses to read Isaiah 61:1-2 for his first public address ever, which is being made in his hometown synagogue. Not only was this his first public address, but it was his first announcement of who he was and what he had come for. Notice that there is nothing about freeing Israel militarily from the Romans. This is all about freeing people from their sins, forgiving them, and leading them to eternity in Heaven.

What is meant by, “to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord”?

            It was understood from numerous prophecies of Isaiah that the coming of the Messiah would also inaugurate a time of divine grace and restoration, dispensing justice to the poor and suffering. Referred to as a “Jubilee year” or “year of liberation” (Leviticus 25:10), every 50th year the Israelites were supposed to demonstrate the same mercy and compassion that God showed to them in the Exodus liberation by extending mercy to each other. According to Isaiah, the Messiah would elevate this “liberation” by divine intervention, grace, and restoration. This is what Jesus came to do.

20 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."

We take it for granted but this announcement was astounding. The Jews had been waiting for over a thousand years for the Messiah and this hometown guy was saying it was him?  Was he actually sitting there right in front of them? 

The Sacraments of Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick

Refresher…

What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is when Heaven and earth meet; when the spiritual and physical meet; when God touches Man and pours out grace. Official definition: A sacrament is a physical sign, instituted by Christ, that gives humans grace.

What is grace?

            Grace is the free/undeserved help (strength/guidance) that God gives to humans through the HS to help us respond to his call to become more Christ-like and to participate in His Divine Nature and eternal life.

Why physical? Isn’t spiritual all that really matters?

No! If so, Jesus wouldn’t have bothered to become physically human. Our unique physical-spiritual human nature was not an accident, it was God’s idea; totally different from the purely spiritual and the purely material. 

“God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes matter. He invented it.” – CS Lewis

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.            – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Marriage

Two of the seven Sacraments are called “sacraments of vocation”:  Marriage and Holy Orders.

What is the origin of the Sacrament of Marriage?

“Therefore, a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.” – Gen 2:24 

Did Jesus reaffirm this sacrament that God the Father instituted?

Yes. When questioned by the Pharisees about marriage and divorce, Jesus replied:

            “Have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’?” – Mt 19:4-5           

This is why we get married in a Church – because God personally gave it to us. This is unique among all living species because mankind was given a spirit and free will, and God is teaching us to be like Him. How? Commitment and family.

God treats commitments – especially between people and doubly especially in marriage – as sacrosanct. Keeping one’s word and promises is a spiritual characteristic. Those who say a formal marriage isn’t necessary are lowering the bar immensely, since it’s easy to leave when there are no formal commitments.  

The family is the closest practice we have to the Trinity, which is a community of love.

Recall that Jesus coming here to save us and reunite us to God is seen as a marriage – a wedding feast – which is why Jesus is called the Groom and the Church his bride. This is continually referenced in the Gospels, by Paul, and Revelation.   

Why is marriage called a Sacrament?

            Because God meets the marrying couple at the altar and pours out His grace upon us. Heaven meets earth!

Who ministers the sacrament of Marriage?

In the Catholic Church, sacraments are typically administered by a bishop, priest, or deacon as a way of conveying God’s grace through sacred rites. However, Matrimony stands apart as the only sacrament where the ministers are the couple themselves. Unlike Baptism or Eucharist, where a clergy member performs the sacrament, in Matrimony, the bride and groom confer the sacrament upon each other through their vows of commitment. The priest or deacon present do not “administer” the sacrament in the traditional sense; rather, they serve as the Church’s official witness, ensuring that the marriage is celebrated in a sacred and canonical manner. This unique aspect highlights the high sanctity of marriage and the importance of mutual consent, where the love and commitment of the spouses mirror the covenantal love between Christ and the Church.

How do we prepare for Marriage?

            The Church now calls it “Pre-Cana” preparation. The goal is to prepare the man and woman for the joys and difficulties that will lie ahead. Everything from having children, keeping a budget, handling disagreements, and how to make decisions together are discussed.

            It is called “Pre-Cana” because Jesus used the wedding feast at Cana as the event for his first public miracle. At the same time he, in effect, became the groom to all of us by providing 180 gallons of wine out of water – a reflection of the abundance of grace God that God gives to the wedding couple.

The Sacrament of Holy Orders

Holy Orders is the sacrament by which bishops, priests, and deacons are ordained, enabling them to serve the Church and the faithful in various capacities. The sacrament of Holy Orders ensures that the Church remains connected to the apostolic tradition, preserving the teachings and practices established by Christ and His apostles.

The Apostles first began this right after the resurrection by replacing Judas with Matthias. It is again found in the Acts 6:1-6 when the apostles appoint several deacons to assist in the ministry. This connection/line to the Apostles has continued unbroken for 2000 years. It includes the Pope (Peter’s chair) and is what we call “Apostolic Succession.”

In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, bishops, priests, and other ministers receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. This sacrament is not merely a rite of passage; it is a profound transformation that configures the ordained to Christ, who is the ultimate servant and minister. Through Holy Orders, individuals are empowered to carry out the mission of the Church, serving the community and administering the sacraments.

The Three Degrees of Holy Orders

The sacrament of Holy Orders includes three distinct degrees: the episcopate (bishops), the presbyterate (priests), and the diaconate (deacons). Each degree has its unique roles and responsibilities:

Episcopate: Bishops hold the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and are responsible for overseeing the spiritual and administrative needs of the diocese. They are the successors of the apostles and have the authority to ordain others.

Presbyterate: Priests serve under the authority of bishops and are primarily responsible for celebrating the Eucharist, administering sacraments, and providing pastoral care to the faithful. They act as the person of Christ, particularly in the celebration of the Mass and Confession.

Diaconate: Deacons assist bishops and priests in their ministry. They have specific roles, such as proclaiming the Gospel, assisting in the celebration of the Eucharist, distributing Holy Communion, presiding over certain sacramental celebrations, such as weddings and funerals, and performing acts of charity within the community. The diaconate is a vital degree that emphasizes service and support within the Church.

The Celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

The sacrament of Holy Orders is celebrated with great solemnity, preferably during the Eucharistic liturgy and in the presence of the faithful. The essential rite involves the bishop's imposition of hands on the head of the ordinand, accompanied by a specific consecratory prayer that invokes the Holy Spirit and the gifts necessary for the ministry. This act signifies the transfer of authority and the commissioning of the individual to serve in their respective role within the Church.

The Importance of Apostolic Succession is a fundamental concept in the Catholic Church, ensuring that the sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred validly and authentically. It is the bishops, as successors of the Apostles, who have the authority to confer this sacrament and pass on the "gift of the Spirit" to those being ordained. This unbroken line of succession is vital for maintaining the integrity and continuity of the Church's ministry, linking current ministers to the original apostles and their mission.

Conclusion

As we reflect on the significance of Holy Orders, we are encouraged to consider how we can support and pray for those who have been ordained, recognizing the vital role they play in the Church's mission and the community's spiritual life. 

May Our Lady guide, protect, and encourage all those who serve in the ministry of Holy Orders.

The closing prayer

Isaiah 61:1

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.

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. 

Amen.