By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy

v16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. v17And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
v18 6″The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, v19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” v20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. v21And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” – Luke 4:16-21
This passage marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and is filled with rich meaning and deep significance for our faith and daily lives. The gospel begins with Jesus returning to Galilee, filled with the power of the Spirit. News about Him spreads throughout the region, and He begins teaching in their synagogues, gaining praise from all. This period of Jesus’ life is a testament to His divine anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit working through Him. After reading the passage, Jesus rolls up the scroll, hands it back to the attendant, and sits down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue are fastened on Him. Then, He declares, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus’ proclamation is a bold and revolutionary statement. He identifies Himself as the anointed one prophesied by Isaiah, the Messiah who has come to bring salvation and liberation. This declaration marks the inauguration of His public ministry and sets the tone for His mission on earth.
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As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the transformative power of Jesus’ ministry and the hope He brings to a broken world. His mission was not just about physical healing and liberation but also about spiritual renewal and reconciliation with God. Jesus’ message is one of inclusivity and compassion. The good news He proclaims is for everyone, regardless of their social status, background, or circumstances. He reaches out to the marginalized, the oppressed, and the downtrodden, offering them hope and a new beginning. The freedom Jesus offers is both physical and spiritual. He came to break the chains of sin and oppression, to heal the wounds of the heart and soul, and to restore sight to those blinded by darkness. His ministry is a testament to the boundless love and mercy of God. With these in mind, let us look at what happened during USA president Donald Trump’s Inaugural Prayer Service early this week.
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The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, urged President Donald Trump to “have mercy” on people who are “scared now” during the inaugural prayer service at Washington’s National Cathedral on January 21, including families with LGBTQ+ members and immigrants. On Monday evening, Trump signed a blitz of executive orders, including one that condemned “gender ideology” and declared, “it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.” Trump earlier pledged to enact the largest deportation in history, with early reports that his administration may begin conducting deportation raids right after his swearing in as the 47th president of the USA. In addition, among Trump’s first executive orders included a move to end birthright citizenship and a measure declaring a near-total halt of the U.S. refugee admissions program — a move widely opposed by Trump’s religious critics. After beginning her homily by exploring the difficulty of forging a “kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and division, a unity that serves the common good,” the Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, singled out three foundational principles for the task: honoring the inherent dignity of every human being, honesty and humility. Near the end of her sermon, Budde directed her remarks to Trump himself, noting the declaration in his inaugural address that he believes he was “saved by God” from an assassination attempt last year. She then implored the president to “have mercy … on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. Help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.” She added: “Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were once strangers in this land.”
Bishop Budde concluded: “May God grant us all the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, speak the truth in love and walk humbly with one another and our God, for the good of all the people of this nation and the world.”
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The homily received a cavalcade of criticism from the political and theological right and from Trump himself. Several of Trump’s evangelical Christian supporters condemned Budde, with the Rev. Franklin Graham dismissing the cathedral as having been “taken over by gay activists” and said in an interview that he believes the bishop should have approached Trump privately. Rep. Mike Collins, a Georgia Republican, published a post on X suggesting Budde, a U.S. citizen, should be deported. The following morning, Trump — who told reporters late Tuesday that the inaugural prayer service was “not very exciting” — posted a diatribe against Budde on Truth Social, a social media platform he owns. “The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater,” he said, going on to insist Budde and the cathedral issue an apology. But neither appears interested in issuing any apology for what they insist was a profession of faith. What’s more, a spokesperson for the Episcopal Church said that the denomination stands by the Episcopal bishop of Washington.
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Our gospel lesson in Luke 4:14-21 is a powerful reminder of Jesus’ mission and the hope He brings to the world. As followers of Christ, we are called to continue His work, proclaiming the good news, bringing healing and liberation to those in need, and living out the values of compassion, justice, and love.
Let us go forth with the assurance that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us, and with the same boldness and faithfulness that Jesus displayed, let us share the good news with a world in need even before the most powerful person as the president of the US of A. My praise and support to Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. May we have more church leaders with such boldness to fulfill their prophetic ministry and in proclaiming the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us pray.
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.**