Animal Should Not Be Kept in Zoo
In Luke 7, when John the Baptist sends his disciples to find out if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus tells them, “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see again, the lame walk, those suffering from virulent skin-diseases are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”
So, who are the poor? The poor are those who are in need of the help of God; those who are open to the plan of God in their lives; those who are simple hearted; the humble. When Elizabeth hears the ‘good news’ (Lk 1:19) that was announced to Zachariah, she acknowledges that the Lord has removed her humiliation of being barren (Cf. Lk 1:25). When Mary sings her magnificat in the presence of Elizabeth, she would say, “The Lord has looked upon the humiliation of his servant” (Lk 1:48).
In short, being poor simply means being open to God. It is to those who rely, depend on God that the Good News is proclaimed. And it is to us that the Good News is proclaimed.
If we consider the Good News as a message, then, it is liberty to captives – the experience of freedom from all that binds us including sin; it is healing to the sick. It is the promise of the favorable year (kairos), the time of Grace. So Good News is not a set of information. It is an experience! Again, the Good News is a community and personal experience with Jesus. It is the possibility to experience God in the person of Jesus. Jesus Christ is the Good News.
This is what actually amazed the hearts of those listeners in the synagogue, as Jesus said: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:21). In other words Jesus was saying, “The times that Isaiah prophesied are here. It is possible to experience the Good News in my person!”
Therefore, today Jesus is bringing hope, joy and favor to us. On the table of his altar we will have the greatest opportunity of being able to experience Jesus in person. He is the living word that has power to change
So, who are the poor? The poor are those who are in need of the help of God; those who are open to the plan of God in their lives; those who are simple hearted; the humble. When Elizabeth hears the ‘good news’ (Lk 1:19) that was announced to Zachariah, she acknowledges that the Lord has removed her humiliation of being barren (Cf. Lk 1:25). When Mary sings her magnificat in the presence of Elizabeth, she would say, “The Lord has looked upon the humiliation of his servant” (Lk 1:48).
In short, being poor simply means being open to God. It is to those who rely, depend on God that the Good News is proclaimed. And it is to us that the Good News is proclaimed.
If we consider the Good News as a message, then, it is liberty to captives – the experience of freedom from all that binds us including sin; it is healing to the sick. It is the promise of the favorable year (kairos), the time of Grace. So Good News is not a set of information. It is an experience! Again, the Good News is a community and personal experience with Jesus. It is the possibility to experience God in the person of Jesus. Jesus Christ is the Good News.
This is what actually amazed the hearts of those listeners in the synagogue, as Jesus said: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:21). In other words Jesus was saying, “The times that Isaiah prophesied are here. It is possible to experience the Good News in my person!”
Therefore, today Jesus is bringing hope, joy and favor to us. On the table of his altar we will have the greatest opportunity of being able to experience Jesus in person. He is the living word that has power to change