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Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6,8-10, I Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT
The Rev’d W. Lee Shaw
In St. Luke’s Gospel we are moving ahead in the story of Jesus. Just prior to our reading today Jesus has been baptized by John, has “been driven” into the wilderness and tempted by the Devil. And now the next thing we hear of him is he is “filled with the power of the Spirit” and comes back to Galilee where he is making a name for himself as a preacher. He is preaching in village synagogues and is getting great reviews for his preaching and teaching. Then he comes home, home to Nazareth. This is his first time home since beginning this ministry. He comes to the synagogue “as was his custom.”
St. Luke sets us up for some high drama. Jesus is making a career for himself as a rabbi and now he comes home. He comes to his hometown synagogue and stands to read. He reads from what we know as the first verses of Isaiah 61 (Third Isaiah). This is a portion of the book looking forward to the establishment of God’s reign in Israel. It is hopeful and full of promise. The congregation would know this passage. Clearly Jesus reads well and then sits to teach and everyone is looking at him and attentive.
Then he drops the bombshell: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” This is no longer the familiar Isaiah looking to the future. Suddenly they hear, “Today this…has been fulfilled.” Today.
On that Sabbath day in Nazareth this prophecy was fulfilled. “Today.” So where does that put us, today? Do we hear the fulfillment of prophecy today? Does he have our attention? What does it mean?
Jesus proclaims his message in his hometown. This is his message to the folks of Nazareth. This is his message for the folks of St. Stephen’s Church, West Valley City, Utah. The message does not change, only the time frame. First, the “Spirit of the Lord” is on Jesus. He is speaking with the authority of God. He has been chosen, anointed, to proclaim the good news, the “gospel.” This Good News (gospel) has several points. First is “good news to the poor.” Then “release to the captives.” Then he announces “recovery of sight to the blind.” Then to free the “oppressed.” Finally he is here to “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Do you believe him? Do you believe him “today?” Let’s look at what he is saying. The “good news” is found in his redemptive grace to us who are poor, the poverty of our lives without knowing God’s grace. “Release of the captives” is not about opening up the jails and prisons. Although so many were and are imprisoned unjustly, such as Jesus’ own cousin John. Rather I see this as release of us as captives of our choices, addictions, our compulsions, anything that holds us captive and does not allow us to live a full life.
So many of us are “blind” and we do not, cannot, see God at work in our lives let alone the life of the world. Jesus is telling us we will see if we but open our eyes in faith.
In Jesus’ day most people were oppressed. It was a top-down society. We each have our own oppressions. Be it guilt or shame, pride or arrogance, work or family, money or debt. There are various forms and varieties of oppression for each of us. Jesus offers us freedom from that sense of oppression.
Finally, “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” This is an important image for the author of Isaiah. It is an important image for Jesus. He is ushering in a new age, a new sense of relationship with God and with each other. I believe that since the resurrection we have been living into the “year of the Lord’s favor.” We have not reached its fulfillment. We are still living into it.
But the key to this whole matter is one word: today. “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Today you heard it. Today it was fulfilled in your hearing. Today.
Now, what difference does it make to you? You have heard the words of Jesus telling you that this scripture from the Hebrew Scriptures is fulfilled in him. Not just in Nazareth’s synagogue but here in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. This scripture has been fulfilled and you heard it. Now, what will you do about it? How can you live into this new reality in terms of your baptismal vows: “I will with God’s help.”
What is the good news of Jesus to you? Where are you poor? Where are you rich? Where is the good news of Jesus in all of that for you?
What holds you captive from enjoying a full life with Jesus, your family, yourself? What is holding you captive? It is time for release. How do you do that with God’s help?
What do you not see? Where are you blind? Where are those around you blind? It is time to open your eyes. It is time to help open the eyes of others. How can you do that with God’s help?
How do you feel oppressed? Where do you see oppression around you? Are you just going to sit there and look at it? What does Jesus call us to do with God’s help?
Today is the day of the Lord’s favor. Today is the day of the Good News of Jesus. Today is the day of release, sight, and freedom. Today.
You have but to open your eyes and see it. You have but to live you life to feel it. And it begins today just as Jesus said and he is with you and will help you.