At the beginning of his public ministry Jesus outlines his Mission in the synagogue in Nazareth:

‘He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,

to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight,

to set the downtrodden free,

to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour’

His ministry was one of compassionate involvement, concern for the disadvantaged.

Aware of obstacles, including those of the Law, which limited joy and fulfilment Jesus acted.

He confronted, sometimes angrily, what undermined a person’s dignity.

Jesus’ sermon in the synagogue in Capernaum triggered a reaction from a member of the congregation.

‘What do you want with us?’

‘Have you come to destroy us?’

It is the Devil recognising the presence of the Holy One.

The duty of the Prophet in speaking God’s words and so bringing God’s light into lives and situations is to enlighten, to encourage, sometimes to warn.

What action is needed to ensure that we respond adequately to God’s challenge?

The plea of the psalmist today is‘ ...listen to his voice, harden not your hearts’.

Racial Justice Sunday is a time to absorb fully this scriptural challenge.

Listening to the voice of God and the voice of the Church we learn of equal love for all:

• Voices that discriminate unjustly, attitudes that undermine on the grounds of race must be opposed.
• Voices of those who feel rejected or perpetually in second place must be listened to.
• The dignity of all must be respected and promoted.
• In the Church we proclaim that everyone of whatever racial origin should, in the words of Pope Francis, be Welcomed, Protected, Promoted and Integrated.
• We need to challenge ourselves to act now so that this may be achieved.