The eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him

Gospel of the Day (Matthew 11:16-19)

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region.

He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: 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."

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Isn't this the son of Joseph?"

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Reflections:

"The eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him"

When you read that Jesus «taught in their synagogues and was praised by all» take care not to hold as happy those who heard Christ at that time and to think of yourself as being deprived of instruction. For, if Scripture is true, our Lord did not speak only in former times in the congregations of the Jews but in our own congregation today, too, and not just here and now but in all the congregations the whole world through... Jesus is «praised by all» even more today than when he was known only within a small area...

«He has sent me,» he says, «to bring glad tidings to the poor». The poor stand for the pagans; these were indeed the poor ones who had nothing: neither God, nor Law, nor prophets, nor righteousness, nor any kind of assurance. Why did God send him as a messenger to the poor? To «proclaim liberty to captives» – 'captives' is what we were: prisoners in chains for so long, subjected to Satan's power. And to «proclaim recovery of sight to the blind» since his word restored sight to the blind...

«Rolling up the scroll, Jesus handed it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synaogue looked intently at him». Even now, if you want to, here in our own congregation, you can look intently at the Savior. When you turn your heart's most profound gaze towards the contemplation of Wisdom and Truth, the only Son of God, then your eyes are looking intently at Jesus. How blessed was that congregation of which Scripture says that «the eyes of all looked intently at him»! How I would wish that our own assembly might merit the same testimony and that the eyes of all, catechumens and faithful, women, men and children, might see Jesus with the eyes of their soul! For after contemplating him your face and your countenance will be alight with his light and you will be able to say: «The light of your countenance has set its seal on us, Lord» (Ps 4,7 LXX).