Alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to preach good news to the poor.
Alleluia.
This Gospel Acclamation reminds us that the Holy Spirit does not fill our hearts simply for our own comfort; He sends us outward in love. Jesus announces a mission especially directed toward the poor, the forgotten, the wounded and those who have lost hope.
To follow Christ, then, is to allow His Spirit to make us attentive to people whom others may overlook. The “good news” we preach is not only spoken with our lips; it becomes visible through compassion, generosity, forgiveness and the dignity with which we treat another person.
May the Spirit of the Lord rest upon us today, so that through our words and actions, someone who feels forgotten may discover that God has not forgotten them. Alleluia.