A Christmas Moment - Saturday 10th January 2026

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit  Amen  Good morning and welcome, and thank you for joining us for our morning prayer with the Oblate Family. My name is Rob.     Today’s Gospel is from Luke Chapter 4, verses 14-22  ‘they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips.’     In our Gospel today, we see Jesus standing in the synagogue, doing what we do every day at mass, or even via these daily reflections: opening the Scriptures. Yet there is something striking about this moment. He is handed the scroll of Isaiah, and he does not simply read the first line before him. He searches. He looks for a passage that expresses 'who' he is and 'why' he has come. And when he finds it, he proclaims words that set the tone for his entire ministry: good news for the poor, freedom for those in chains, sight for the blind, lifting up those who are crushed, and announcing a time of God’s boundless favour.  This is not just ancient poetry. It is Christ’s own mission statement. And it reaches into our lives too: because in different ways, we are the poor, the blind, the burdened, the ones longing for God to put things right. Jesus came precisely for those who know they need him.    Today, Lord, I pray I may share this precious gift.  Amen.    In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit  Amen