Jesus goes back home

I have met many missionaries who have been working in other countries; when they came back they had a difficulty in adjusting with the growth and development and way the way of life back home. There are also tons of happy moments shared with family and friends when they come back. The whole family would be sitting around you asking questions about the mission area and the people and the climate of the place, more importantly the food and entertainment. There is a great joy in going back to our homes.

Jesus is seen in today’s gospel going back to his hometown, where he grew up: Nazareth. This reminds us of His own roots: He comes from God. People who come from God are possessed by power of the Spirit and were given great commissions such as the commission that is found in the Book of Isaiah: to bring good news to poor, proclaim liberty to captives, sight to blind, oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. We come from God and were given the Holy Spirit from the moment we received Baptism.

Many hardly ever came back home and went on violating the commission for which we have been sent to by God. They proclaim bad news to the poor – nothing from me; get away. They are the captives – addicted to many a thing that there is no liberty for their own selves, being blind themselves and oppressing themselves and others. If the original plan of God had to fulfill in us, we need to come back home.

Every week has a holiday. We need to regain the strength for future by coming back home. We need to come back home often. Let us pray that we continue to live as children of homes where God takes care of us and gives us the Holy Spirit. Amen.