SCRIPTURE Luke 4:14-21 (NRSV)
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
This is one of my favorite passages in the bible.
The words Jesus speaks in Nazareth are the first words we hear of his public ministry in Luke’s Gospel.
That must mean something significant.
Because this is Jesus’ inaugural address in Luke.
And what is it that Jesus says?
He tells us what is at the heart of his mission and will be his constant message.
And what he tells us is a reminder from the prophet Isaiah.
Remember, 2 weeks ago we read from the prophet Isaiah who promised us that God’s universal spirit would be with us and guide us as we welcomed all of God’s children.
Jesus’ quotes from Isaiah 61 and 58 and tells us what his purpose is --- what our purpose is.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And then to cap it all off he says --- and I love how Luke makes the scene so dramatic
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
WOW!
We heard earlier in Luke chapter 1, in the Magnificat, that:
[God] has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty-handed.
Now Jesus is bringing “good news to the poor.”
The word for poor in Greek is ptochoi (pa tah hos)
It refers to one’s economic status
It can also refer to other factors that could lower one’s status in the 1st century
Gender
One’s family --- genealogy
Education
Occupation
Health disability
Degree of religious purity
Jesus’ mission to the poor is not just about monetary poverty --- but to all those who find themselves living on the margins of their society.
Jesus is busting down these cultural boundaries and insisting, as Isaiah did in chapter 43 that all are a part of God’s grace
All are loved by God.
Then he throws in, from Isaiah 61 --- “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
This is most likely a reference to Leviticus 25, where God gives to Moses the concept of the year of Jubilee
A year in which indentured servants were to be freed
Debts forgiven
Land and property returned to the original owners
It is a utopian idea of a radical redistribution of wealth --- but what is interesting --- there is ZERO evidence of it actually ever happening in Israel.
So, Isaiah --- and Jesus --- seem to be projecting this as what the future kin-dom might look like.
Can you imagine trying to put this into action?
Think of all the challenges?
Forgive all debt?
Return all property?
Whose property was it originally?
The passage this week ends with Jesus making the radical proclamation:
“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Really?
While our lection ended there, the Gospel reading for next Sunday continues the story.
We are not going to use that passage, but instead, next week, go back to 1 Corinthians --- but do you remember what happens next?
Let me ask you a question --- How do you feel when you hear those words?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Or the similar message that is found in Matthew in what we call the sermon on the mount?
I can tell you that I have more people complain when I chose to preach that message of Jesus than almost anything else.
We don’t mind loving our neighbor
But redistributing wealth
Suggesting that the poor are more blessed?
Or that we should be humble, righteous or full or peace?
Especially if it means changing our behavior
Most of us say --- Thanks, but No Thanks
The good people of Nazareth --- Jesus’ home --- didn’t like the message either.
Remember what they decide to do?
Luke tells us:
When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.
There can be an uncomfortableness to the message of Jesus.
Yet of all the stories about Jesus that the early church could have remembered and cherished --- they remembered this one.
And Luke made it the inaugural story of Jesus’ ministry.
One that they --- like us --- have failed to live up too.
Following Jesus is not easy --- but we have been given the tools necessary to be successful.
Last week, as we looked at Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth and his reminding us that we have all been gifted by God for building up the good of the community.
1 Corinthians 12:selected (CEB)
There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord; and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good. . . All these things are produced by the one and same Spirit who gives what he wants to each person.
I asked you to take stock of how God has gifted you
To seek to understand the gifts that God has given you --- as well as the passions that you have.
I hope you took some time to do that.
Today, Jesus is asking us --- what are we going to do with those gifts.
And that’s the rub isn’t it.
While it isn’t always easy for us to acknowledge that we are gifted by God --- taking that gift, and putting it into action --- well that is a different story all together.
I can’t tell you how many people I have known over the years who have gone to the trouble of doing a spiritual gift inventory --- a little test to help you determine your spiritual gifts from God --- and then can never get themselves to actually use them.
The old proverb says the hardest step is always the first one.
And there are many who would be happy to pooh poo that idea.
But the truth is --- we can study all about something ---we can dream and plan --- but if we never put it into action --- well then what was the point.
It is almost as if we are good with the ready and the set --- but we hesitate with the go.
We just can’t commit fully to the cause
Leadership experts like to point to the method that Cortes used to get his men to move forward.
In the year 1519, Cortés arrived in the Vera Cruz area of Mexico with six hundred men and, people like to say: he made history by destroying his ships. Burning them --- the more dramatic accounts claim.
Why did he do this?
To send a clear message to his men: There is no turning back. You must move forward.
The true story is a bit more complicated and nuanced.
But regardless --- there can be a lesson in it for us.
In order to fully succeed in the journey of life --- we must go fully in.
We are all on a journey --- whether we admit it or not
The question is --- what are we journeying toward.
With my announcement of my retirement --- it sent the leadership of Meridian Street on a new journey
And since then --- they have listened to you as you shared what you wanted in your next pastoral leader.
As you shared the direction that you perceive God is leading Meridian Street UMC.
They then synthesized all those comments to present to the Bishop and cabinet to assist them in finding the most suitable candidate to lead Meridian Street.
But their job wasn’t done yet.
Now comes the hard part of leaving the safety of the harbor and beginning to live into that new vision that they --- with your help --- have captured.
Tomorrow night --- the leadership will be meeting with Jim Ozier to learn how to make the transition more effective for future ministry.
I encourage you to keep them in your prayers as they begin this journey.
But we are all on a journey
Nancy and I took the first step this week in trying to figure out where we want to move to.
We have begun creating our “wish list” of what the next community will look like and what type of home we want to move into --- but more importantly --- trying to understand where God is leading us for this next chapter of our lives.
Where is God leading you?
You may need to ask yourself:
Am I headed in the right direction?
Do I even know where I am going?
Have I considered the consequences of my choices?
What do I do when I get to a fork in the road? Do I settle down or continue and go left or right?
To reach the destination of life’s journey will take time, and there is a process.
Often the process has its ups and downs, starts, and stops.
The process will usually involve some right and wrong choices.
But the biggest choice is to BEGIN.
Begin this journey by turning to our ultimate guide and leader --- JESUS.
He will gift you with all that you need --- if you are willing to follow the path that he has laid out for you.
A path of not putting yourself first --- but God’s kin-dom and children.
Are you ready?
Jesus is calling you
Will you follow?
Let’s Go!
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