We’ve all likely heard, seen, or read the phrase “Based on a true story” or “Based on true events.” It isn’t necessarily all that common, but it is still fascinating to behold, especially when you watch a film, and this short phrase pops up at the beginning or at the end. Why is it fascinating? Well, to a certain degree, we enjoy movies or films, though there isn’t always a degree of reality. We are entertained, and that is the goal. Yet, sometimes, when we see that this story is something that actually happened, it makes it all the more incredible- and perhaps, even more enjoyable.
Yet, if you really think about it, that is easy to do. You just have to know someone’s story, and commit yourself to telling it in a more or less realistic way. What is much more impressive is what we actually see happening in the Gospel today- the fact that Jesus Christ comes into the midst of a scriptural prophecy- something that was telling about His coming for hundreds of years, and yet, He walks into the midst of the community gathered there that day in worship- and announces- the scriptures have been fulfilled in their hearing. He is the one fulfilling scriptures- this isn’t just “based on a true story” but it is something so much more substantial than that!
To build up the context for this, though, let’s go back to the first reading, and start from there. The first reading is taken from the book named after Nehemiah. The story is very clear- it lays out who is there and what is happening. So, we are introduced to Ezra the priest- who is bringing the law before the assembly. He is working to introduce the people the Law in the scriptures- and we hear how everyone gathers to listen. And this isn’t just a few minutes of listening like we were just doing, but it is hours- we could guess around six hours, where the people were listening attentively. Ezra reads the scriptures, and then eventually, he comes to the conclusion, and blesses the people.
Yet, notice the interesting encouragement that Ezra gives here- the people are so moved by the word, that he has to uplift them! He encourages them not to be sad- for we hear the people are weeping as they hear the words of the law. Ezra reminds them- this isn’t a day to be somber, but to rejoice, because the Lord has spoken directly to them and to their hearts! He finishes off this entire reading by telling them “rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!” It truly is incredible to experience what they must have experienced: they listened to the word of God for hours, and they were so moved by it that they began to weep- they had a moment of encounter with the Lord through the scriptures! We will come back to this in a moment, but it is still such a great thing to behold- people giving the Lord an open ear and an open heart to hear His word!
The Second reading moves on to Saint Paul and his first letter to the Corinthians- and really is a continuation to what we heard last week. We are reminded again of the complexity of our faith- that we can be many and still one- much like last week there are many gifts, and yet, there is still only one Spirit and one God. This week, it really seeks to flesh that out- and to emphasize that, even though we are many individuals in a parish, or many parishes in a diocese, or even many dioceses in one Catholic Church, we are still all a part of that same body. When Saint Paul speaks to the Corinthians, he gives them that simple reminder- we are all parts of the one Body. He paints this out by showing how absurd it would be for one to attempt to live without the parts of the body- and so he shows how one part of the body cannot live without the other- one cannot separate themselves from the Body without destruction. Yet, there is a balance here too- one, just because they are a part of the greater whole, is not lesser a person- but they are given so much more honor because of being a part of that greater whole- the Body of Christ. It has practical advantage that we support one another in poor times, encourage each other in dark times, and rejoice in the Gospel all together.
Finally, we arrive at the Gospel. At the beginning, we are given the prologue to the Gospel of Luke- which told his entire purpose of writing- and he tells us that he wants to give us as good of a portrayal as he can, especially after investigating everything and composing it- and he wants to do it in such a way as to dispel any doubt.
Yet, we bracket a lot of information here, and move to another point on scripture- when Jesus is teaching in the synagogues. Luke tells us that He is going around and teaching- and news is spreading wildly about Him because of how He teaches. Eventually, we get to a specific instance of this teaching- and we hear about an encounter in a synagogue. He stands up to read the word of God- and comes to the word of Isaiah. It likely rings somewhat familiar to your ears- “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Yet, as beautiful as that passage is, it is easily eclipsed by the next statement Jesus makes. He sits down and announces “Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” What does this mean? This means that He is the one who is to come. He is the one that the community has been anticipating for so long- if you really enter into the word, you can sense the fulfillment that the people would have experienced! This is the one that is going to let us all free- to give sight to the blind, liberty to captives, and to proclaim a new time focused upon God Himself. This truly is a beautiful time, and a great announcement!
What does this mean for all of us here today though? Why should we also sense and even experience that joy that they might have been filled with? I want to break it down in a few points: and to start with a question: has scripture moved you to tears before? Has it filled you with joy and expectation?
There are some things we should ponder and consider as we hear the word of God today. First, from the first reading, we should notice the need to make the word of God a fixture in our life. We need to make room- perhaps not six hours, but we still need to give it space. Just listening to the readings on Sunday is good- but we should be seeking to do more. To read on our own- to let the Law of God and the Word to penetrate our hearts and our souls. We read so many other things, and we hear so many other stories, why shouldn’t we make room for more?
Next, we should be and need to be aware of the power that scripture has. If we glance at the first reading, we note that the people are enthralled to hear the Word of God- and are even moved to tears- because they are in a place to hear and to accept that word that God is presenting to them. If you look at the Gospel- the word is being fulfilled- and Jesus is announcing His Good News- His Saving presence to them- their hearts must have been swelling with joy- or at least they should have been! If we trust the scriptures enough, it wants to fulfill us and to give us good, spiritual nourishment! We can even think about how the Word wants to fill us in our good moments- but also in our bad moments, or when we don’t know where to turn. Jesus announcing that he is the one to bring liberty to captives and sight to the blind- that doesn’t mean just physical restraint or conditions- but it especially means in those times when we fell that we simply are encumbered by life, by weakness, by sin, or just can’t really see the way forward, or don’t know what to do. Jesus wants to give us that very same fulfillment today!
Finally, my brothers and sisters- we should be a community centered around scripture- one Body, though in many parts. We should support one another- but notice how God’s Word feeds our entire parish and our souls! We shouldn’t be afraid to proclaim the Good News to one another, but should feel stronger and more resilient because of the Word of God that is in our midst and is strengthening us.
My brothers and sisters, we’ve heard and seen so many things “based on a true story” or “true events.” As exciting as those might be when we find them, there is something so much more exciting and that has so much more potential in our midst. Let’s not let it become a dusty book on a shelf, but let’s have it really impact us and give us the strength, the joy, and even the encounter with Christ that we truly need. Truly, the Scriptures are being fulfilled in our midst- are you willing to be fulfilled and filled with the Scriptures?
