Today’s gospel is especially appropriate at this time. The wealthy are becoming even richer, while the poor are being left behind. The rich often misuse their power for their own benefit, rather than for that of society. Luke begins his gospel with Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) which sets the tone of what follows, where the values of the establishment are turned upside down. In today’s gospel, Jesus read a passage from Isaiah, who was one of the major prophets and the one most quoted in the New Testament. The extract which the Lord chose is from Third Isaiah, who wrote after the return of the Jews to their country. His emphasis is on active rather than lip service. Prophets were God’s mouthpieces but Jesus, God’s Word Incarnate, gave direct divine witness to the fulfilment of scripture and to what the Kingdom of God really meant.
Jesus would put his words into action, reaching out to the poor,the blind and the downtrodden. The reference to anointing would suggest kingship and that what he was doing was what every king or political leader should do. It was heart-warming, at the service in Washington Cathedral attended by the US president, to hear Bishop Mariann Budde speak of compassion for the marginalised. She was only honouring the words of Jesus, which should be reflected in the programme of government of every political leader.