MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL FOR 1 SEPTEMBER
September 1, 2025
FEAST OF BL. JOHN FRANCIS BURTÉ & COMPANIONS, MARTYRS – 2nd SEPTEMBER
September 2, 2025
TODAY’S GOSPEL READING
1 SEPTEMBER, 2025
Luke 4:16-30
Jesus 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.
They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said,
“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!
REFLECTION
In this passage, Jesus enters the synagogue of His hometown, reads from the scroll of Isaiah, and proclaims that the Scripture is fulfilled in Him. At first, the people marvel at His words, but soon their amazement turns into rejection, as they cannot accept that one so familiar to them carries God’s authority. This moment reveals the challenge of faith: recognizing God’s work even when it comes through ordinary means. It reminds us that true discipleship demands openness, humility, and the willingness to let God’s truth disturb our comfort. Jesus shows that God’s mission is not confined to one people but extends to all, breaking boundaries of expectation and pride.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You came with the Spirit’s power to bring good news to the poor, freedom to the oppressed, and healing to the broken. Forgive us when we, like the people of Nazareth, close our hearts to Your voice because of our own pride and familiarity. Grant us the humility to recognize Your presence in unexpected places and people. Open our eyes to see Your mission that reaches beyond boundaries and our lives to join in proclaiming Your mercy. May Your Spirit guide us to be witnesses of Your love, courageous in faith, and steadfast in following You. Amen
