LIVE IT TODAY: Thursday, January 8, 2026
My Spirit rests upon You. Today—not someday—My Word is fulfilled in your hearing.
LIVE IT TODAY: Thursday, January 8, 2026
A GREAT WAY TO BEGIN TODAY!
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GOD’S DECLARATION TO YOU TODAY
My Spirit rests upon You. Today—not someday—My Word is fulfilled in your hearing.
INVOCATION
Come, Holy Spirit! Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary, open my heart to hear and receive all that You desire for me. Draw me ever more deeply into the Love and Life of the Blessed Trinity!
GOSPEL | Luke 4:14–22
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.
EVERY DAY QUESTION
What struck you? Challenged you? Inspired you? What questions did it raise?
GOING DEEPER
Jesus does not announce an idea—He announces a moment: “Today.”
This Gospel marks a decisive turning point in Jesus’ public ministry. He returns to Nazareth “in the power of the Spirit” and enters the synagogue according to His custom. Revelation comes not through novelty, but through faithfulness. Jesus stands within Israel’s worship, opens Isaiah, and claims the text as His own.
The word anointed is central. In Greek, chriō—to anoint—gives us Christos. Jesus is not merely describing a mission; He is revealing His identity. The anointing of the Spirit is not symbolic. It is the visible manifestation of divine authority for the sake of others—especially the poor, the captive, the blind, and the oppressed.
When Jesus proclaims “a year acceptable to the Lord,” He invokes the Jubilee (Hebrew yōbēl)—a time of restoration, forgiveness of debts, and freedom. Jubilee is not escape from the world; it is the world set right. And Jesus does not say it is coming. He says it is fulfilled today.
This is where amazement begins—and resistance soon follows. At first, all speak well of Him. Grace is welcomed until it demands response. Jesus’ hometown hears the words, but the deeper challenge is whether they will allow those words to reframe their expectations, wounds, and control.
This Gospel speaks powerfully into family life. The Spirit who anoints Christ also anoints the baptized. Our homes are meant to be places where glad tidings are spoken aloud, where captivity is named and healing pursued, where forgiveness is practiced as a concrete act, not an abstract ideal.
We parents are not merely raising children—we are cooperating in God’s Jubilee work. The “today” of salvation unfolds in ordinary kitchens, carpools, sickbeds, and late-night conversations. When we speak blessing instead of fear, truth instead of avoidance, and mercy instead of control, Scripture is fulfilled again—in our hearing and in our homes.
“The whole Christ—head and body—acts. Christ teaches, heals, forgives, and liberates.” (CCC 795)
LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS
In My Heart: Where is Jesus inviting me to believe that His Word is fulfilled today, not postponed?
In My Home: How can our family become a place of freedom, healing, and glad tidings this week?
In My World: Who around me needs to hear that God’s mercy is not theoretical, but present now?
FAMILY LIVE IT
Make some time today to gather together and, going around, name one way each person desires God’s freedom or healing right now.
Then, one by one, pray over each person by name, asking for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to bring clarity, courage, freedom from the lies of the Enemy, and joy in living the Gospel concretely each day.
Daily Challenge:
Speak one intentional word of hope or affirmation today that echoes Christ’s mission—to bring glad tidings.
DAILY PARENT & GRANDPARENT BLESSING
LORD JESUS CHRIST, let Your holy anointing be upon each of our children, grandchildren, and godchildren this day and week, including all to whom they are called in vocation, and all future generations! In Your Sacred Name we claim them for You! We renounce all whispers, lies, and influences of the Enemy! We pray right now that each know Your loving Presence, be forged in virtue, and be flooded with an abundance of Your Holy Spirit to live fully their identity and mission in You now and through all eternity, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother! Amen.
PARENT BLESSING PROJECT: bit.ly/ParentBlessing
GOING VERTICAL
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Just as the vertical beam upholds the horizontal beam of the Cross, so too does undistracted, dedicated daily turning to God as our lifeblood uphold and strengthen every part of life. Start with just three minutes. Wait patiently for the breakthrough beyond the noise. Let Him speak.
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