Benny Nalkara, CMI

In Luke 4, we find the Nazareth Manifesto of Jesus (4:16-20). Jesus had just undergone the pivotal experiences which kick-started his ministry: his baptism by John, temptation in the wilderness and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. On his return to Galilee he takes the opportunity to set the agenda for what will follow, mapping out his programme and indicating his priorities. He quotes from the book of Isaiah (61:1-2). The words spoken by Jesus in the synagogue hint at what God has been up to since the beginning of time. Jesus presented the blueprint of his action, namely, the preaching the gospel to the poor, healing the broken hearted, giving liberty to captives and sight to the blind. The highlight of the manifesto seems to be the proclamation of the year of the Lord’s favour.

Traditionally, the Jubilee year that is mentioned in the book of Levi 25 is considered as the “year of the Lord’s favour.” This year as a Jubilee year meant to be a year of restitution This involved the release of people from various types of debt, the liberation of slaves, rest for the land (being allowed to lie fallow), and the restoration of people to their original family property.  What the Israelites possessed for themselves was needed to be handed over to the owners or to their ancestors. The commandment is grounded in the Mosaic Law, especially in the Holiness Code (Lev 25:8-13). It speaks about keeping the land fallow, returning the property to the original tenants or their ancestors and the freeing of the indentured servants. The key phrase “year of release” (eniautosafeseos) is found in LXX, is the concrete expression of loving God and neighbour.

For Jesus, “The Year of the Lord’s Favour” is not merely the jubilee year or the Sabbath year. It’s not the time of the restitution of the land alone. It’s the time when all the unjust and untruth ways which suppress the human beings are abolished. It’s the time when we have the situation in which all can consider God as the father and others as brothers and sisters. It’s the time when love becomes the real law and all other laws will be placed in the shadow of love. It’s the time when the altruistic humility of Christ prompts all to serve others as Jesus did. The favourable year is when we return to the social order governed by fraternity.

Jesus proclaimed the characteristics of the grace-filled time of the Lord. What is mentioned in the Nazareth Manifesto as the blueprint of action of Jesus reminds us of the restoration that is needed in the life and relationships of the disciples of Jesus. It’s the time of liberation, vision, liberty and above all the time of joy of the gospel. Jesus confirmed in the Synagogue at Nazareth that he is the one who is sent to realize the integral liberation, which was foretold by Prophet Isaiah. By proclaiming prosperity, liberation and liberty, the special characteristics of the “Messianic age,” Jesus was telling them the salvific age was at hand and he himself was the Messiah whom the Israel was expecting for ages. Jesus presented himself as a saviour who was compassionate towards the poor and the oppressed. He was concerned for all who were lost and like sheep without a shepherd. He revealed through his liberating actions that only when we, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are able to bring the poor, the captives and the blind to the main stream of the society, the new age, which is favourable to God dawns.

Jesus’ Nazareth Manifesto was not a political message or even a religious message, but a relational one. The Year of Lord’s favour envisioned and expressed by him is not about becoming religiously superior and hording it over others. It is about living in and by God’s favour that is lavished on all and restoring the relationships rightly. This act includes making restitutions in all spheres of life but more importantly in restituting the love. And what Jesus proclaimed was the beginning of such new praxis of the Kingdom of God.  The Year of Lord’s favour dawns when we follow legalistically precepts of the law out of fear or favour but by living it in the context of love that builds up right relationships.