Daily Catholic Lectio. Mon, 1 Sep ’25. Hopeful in Christ, Faithful in Mission

Daily Catholic Lectio

Mon, 1 September ‘25

Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Monday

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. Luke 4:16-30

Hopeful in Christ, Faithful in Mission

1. Grieving with Christian Hope

Scripture: Paul comforts the Thessalonians who worried about the fate of the dead in Christ. He assures them: “We do not want you to be uninformed…so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thess 4:13). At the Lord’s coming, the dead will rise first, and all will be with Him forever.

Church’s Teaching: The Catechism (CCC 1681–1683) affirms that Christian death is illuminated by the Resurrection, making grief an act of faith and hope.

Pastoral Application: Loss is painful, but we grieve differently—as people of hope. Funerals, prayers for the dead, and remembrance of our loved ones express not despair but trust that in Christ, death becomes the doorway to eternal life.

2. Jesus the Fulfilment of God’s Promise

Scripture: In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus reads from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Lk 4:18). He declares that this prophecy is fulfilled in Him—He brings good news to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed.

Church’s Teaching: Vatican II (Dei Verbum 4) teaches that Jesus is the fullness of God’s revelation—He is not only the messenger but also the message.

Pastoral Application: Our faith is not just a set of doctrines but an encounter with Christ, who fulfils God’s promises. In Him, we find healing, freedom, and hope. Do I allow His Word to be fulfilled in my life, or do I resist Him like the people of Nazareth?

3. From Comfort to Challenge

Scripture: At first, the people of Nazareth marvelled at Jesus’ gracious words. But when He challenged their narrow vision of God’s mercy—reminding them of blessings given to outsiders—they grew angry and tried to drive Him out (Lk 4:28–29).

Church’s Teaching: Fratelli Tutti (no. 85) warns that faith cannot be closed in on itself; it must expand into universal love and inclusion.

Pastoral Application: Like the people of Nazareth, we are glad when the Gospel comforts us, but uneasy when it challenges our prejudices. True discipleship means welcoming a Christ who expands our horizons, pushes us beyond comfort, and calls us to embrace those on the margins.

Conclusion

Paul reminds us that our hope in Christ conquers death. Jesus reveals Himself as the fulfilment of God’s promises, but He also challenges us to widen our hearts to God’s universal mercy. The Gospel is not only consolation but also provocation—calling us to live as a people of hope and mission, rooted in Christ.

In sum, Paul assures us that we grieve differently as Christians—because in Christ, the dead will rise and live with Him forever. Jesus proclaims in Nazareth that He is the fulfilment of God’s promise: bringing good news, healing, and freedom. At first, the people welcomed His words, but when challenged to see God’s mercy for all, they resisted. The Gospel both comforts us with hope and provokes us to change our narrow ways. True discipleship means living in hope, embracing Christ’s mission, and widening our hearts to all people.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy