It is a fantastic story that has come down to us from more than 2,000 years ago. It is a story of inspiration, incredible compassion, courage, defiance and salvation. It is the story of the son of a carpenter who called himself the Son of Man, or “one in solidarity with humankind.” That is what he was: a simple carpenter’s son, but one with great wisdom and insight who started a movement based on his knowledge of the Scriptures. He declared then that he would fulfill the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah, saying he was called to fulfill a sacred mission.
I was chosen, he said, to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim that they were not forgotten by God, that He had called humankind to make a preferential choice to serve the poor first. They were the top priority in his life and mission, and they should be our top priority, too. A priority for us to serve the poorest of humanity and work to bring justice and greater equality to those suffering and downtrodden.
Jesus of Nazareth made them the focus of his mission, and so should we because they suffer the most. They are the most oppressed and rejected people, abandoned and left hungry by society. They and their children suffer abuse, injustice and inequality.
That is what Jesus of Nazareth came to change. He taught the world that God has chosen to put the poor, the abandoned and the abused first. A society or nation that allows and even promotes injustice and inequality — one that creates millions of poor and hungry people — is a society or nation far from God. It’s a society marked by great inequality that has failed to accept the teachings of Jesus to create a just, caring and loving society. This is a reality we are called to change. How? By always doing good, opposing evil, and believing that we can overcome injustice one day. Christ’s message was, and is, one of hope and inspiration, where light overcomes darkness, where life and resurrection overcome evil and death.
In the Gospel of Saint Luke, specifically 4:16–30, Jesus visited the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, where he quoted Isaiah’s words to proclaim freedom to captives and the victims of debt bondage, and the women and children enslaved in sex dens and brothels and lured into debt in the sex industry because of the corruption in a society that permits it to thrive, thus promoting slavery and inhumanity.
In imitation of Christ
The other captives to be freed are those wrongly charged and unjustly imprisoned, such as human rights activists, environmentalists who strive to save our ecology, social justice campaigners and journalists who tell the truth to the oppressors. They are the imitators of Jesus of Nazareth who follow his example and speak truth to power. They are condemned as enemies of the state for trying to liberate the poor and the oppressed from suffering and injustice.
He came to restore sight not only to those actually blind, but also to people who are blind to the truth of his words and actions to bring justice and freedom to the poor, and those blinded by the glitter of gold and silver and living a life in the darkness, far from God. They are called to embrace the light of truth and justice. They are the lost, rich politicians consumed with greed, selfishness and hunger for power to oppress humanity. Jesus of Nazareth came to call them to repent, serve the poor and set the oppressed and those deprived of a decent life free. They are called to share the wealth and bring justice and equality to the poor.
Quoting Isaiah, he said the time had come when the Lord will save his people from all the evil in the world. He would call on them to change in mind and heart, and love their neighbor by helping and serving the victims with compassion and love.
There were the elders, pharisees and scribes listening to Jesus of Nazareth as he challenged them to change, do good and oppose evil. They were filled with anger at him when he pointed out the historical injustices in society. They grabbed Jesus and dragged him to the top of the hill, intending to throw him over to his death, but he stopped them with the power of his dignity and presence, walked away through the crowd, and went his way.
That was the beginning of the many challenges and confrontations he would have with the forces of evil as he gathered supporters and crowds of people who desired and believed in a better, more just and loving society. They became his followers. Today, these are his many true disciples who continue to do good for the poor and suffer for it, especially when they challenge and oppose the oppressors. They, like Jesus, are unjustly imprisoned and tortured. Many are slain by the death squads for being in solidarity with the downtrodden, as Jesus was. He challenged the cruel and hypocritical religious authorities. They were like whitewashed tombs, sepulchers filled with corruption, he said. They hated him and planned his execution.
He called his followers friends, not servants. He said: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you.” This was the “greatest love,” he added, sacrificial love that no one could have greater love than to give his life in service to others. He washed their feet as a humble servant himself and shared mutual affection, purpose and mission.
He suffered the betrayal of his friend Judas. He stood by his convictions, his nonviolent revolution of the heart and mind. For this, he was crucified. He overcame death and was raised up to life. His presence and message live among us, and we are challenged to be his friends and true followers and doers of his word by serving humanity with all our hearts and minds.
