Jesus' vision for his future

Before Luke tells the story of the life and mission of Jesus he tells what Jesus sees as his vision for his future (Luke 4:16-30). According to Luke, Jesus chooses the passage he reads from Isaiah so that the people of his hometown will understand what he wants to dedicate his life to. It is notable that Jesus does not mention sin but rather shows compassion for the victims of those whose ambitions for domination, power and riches cause so much poverty, oppression and suffering. While the people were at first amazed at his gracious words, they questioned his right to challenge them to look beyond their comfort zone. He's one of us, they thought. What does he know? We know that millions of people in the world today are suffering from the oppression and wars caused by power hungry rulers. Eamon Sheridan, a Columban living and working in Myanmar, asks us to remember and pray for the people there as the struggles of the people to overcome the cruelty of the illegal military government are causing even more tension and danger. Let us remember all those who are working to bring the compassion of Jesus to all those who are unjustly suffering. ''O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart! Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away.'' (Psalm 36:10)