Jesus is the one the Lord God has anointed with the Holy Spirit and has sent to preach the Good News to the poor.

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  And the sacred writers and wise holy men and women bring them to light for us to see.  We give them thanks since they share and preach what the Holy Spirit lets them know.

But though we may learn well what they teach and we dig in it deeply, none of it will be of use to us if we do not see Jesus as the Preacher of the Good News to the poor.  Yes, he is, first of all, the one that goes about all of Galilee to preach the Good News of the kingdom.  It does not bother him that he is with folks others hate.  Folks that make up the Galilee of the Gentiles (see Jn 7, 52).

For Jesus, of course, to preach the Good News means to preach it “by words and works” (see SV.EN XII: 78).  For he does not just teach in synagogues; he also heals those who are sick and who suffer (see also Acts 10, 38).

No, there is no doubt that Jesus helps in every way those who are poor:  he takes care of them, he eases their suffering, be it of the soul or of the body.  They see to it that others help them also in every way, too.  That is why he calls Andrew and Simon, and James and John.  And they, in turn, leave their nets, their boats and their homes, and follow him.

To leave all to preach Christ on the cross

Jesus grants to those he calls and chooses, yes, to leave all to follow him.  He also promises to them many happy returns in this age and in the age to come (Mk 10, 29-30).  Hence, it is a sure thing that to be happy means to follow Jesus in serving those who are poor (SV.EN:384).  This, of course, asks that we also let go of all, of our bodies and blood, too.

Are we of these called and chosen ones?  Of those who mean to know no more than Jesus and him crucified, so that the cross may not be empty of its meaning?

Lord Jesus, give us strength to be kind and understanding with those we meet so that we may thus get to be images of you and to preach the Good News.

22 January 2023
3rd Sunday in O.T. (A)
Is 8, 23 – 9, 3; 1 Cor 1, 10-13. 17; Mt 4, 12-23