Do you remember learning to read? I recall labouring with new words and struggling to master them … a parent or teacher kneeling beside me, patiently pointing out each letter. When I was able to string enough words together, the world of books opened up. Certain books became friends as I grew to know and love the characters in each one.

Like ourselves, Jesus learnt to read. Someone would have patiently taught him, pointing out all the shapes and symbols, explaining what each one meant. He would have laboured over certain words and struggled to string them together. He would have experienced the delight we felt as he encountered new characters and fed his imagination with stories of ancient times.

In today’s Gospel, when Jesus completes his inaugural speech, we have a sample of his favorite reading material and some of his preferred characters. Jesus not only thinks and talks about these characters, he learns about God through them. He makes friends with an interesting mix of people – from great prophets to needy widows and lepers.

Reading does matter and it is important. It takes us to quiet places. Through it we are offered a golden opportunity to link into Jesus’ world. When we open the Gospels, we can meet him and his friends at any time and in any place.

                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                      Sr. Kathryn, pddm