ILC Devotion - 21 January 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church Weekly Devotion

Monday 21 January 2013

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^NRS Luke 4:16 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, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ¹⁸ “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, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

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When we hear scripture read to us, or read it ourselves, how many of us truly comprehend what we hear or what we read? How does the scripture speak to us? Engaging scripture can be hard work at times, demanding our concentration, time and thought; asking us to change. It is not always easy trying to discern what the writer is telling us, let alone responding to God’s call to us through scripture.

 Jesus’ proclamation rings true with the same promise Isaiah proclaimed to the exiled Jews in Babylon. Just like Isaiah, Jesus is God’s messenger. Jesus is also God’s agent, God’s Son, who will offer the promise of redemption. The Spirit of the Lord does rest upon Jesus; Jesus comes to announce release from bondage - the bondage of sin. Jesus will give sight to the blind - he will reveal God’s glory to the people. Jesus will speak for the oppressed - declaring they are favored by God. Most importantly Jesus will proclaim the love of God is present with them - he will personify God’s love to the people.

Now Jesus makes this declaration in his home town. But in this passage from Luke, Jesus is rather skeptical, critical of his fellow Nazarites. Maybe he knows them all too well. For Jesus says to them: “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own country.” Yes, Jesus comes for the lost sheep of Israel, but we see a foreshadowing of Jesus’ ministry and God’s, reaching out beyond the people of Israel - God’s chosen people. God’s love is offered to all humankind, all who is willing to hear it and accept it are welcomed. There are no ethnic limitations regarding God’s favor. Any who are poor, captive, blind, and oppressed, who hear, believe and follow - are people of God. Yet, those of us who feel like we are the privileged people of God, how do we  hear and respond to Jesus? The invitation to follow Jesus is offered to all - no exceptions. We may think we are privileged, but how are we held captive, what are we blind to, how are we poor, do we oppress? This is where hearing or reading of scripture gets difficult. We are asked to change - change our minds, change how we act, change how we think, change how we respond to Jesus call to be part of our lives. It is hard work. If we respond to Jesus, Jesus will help us work through our difficulties; with Jesus transformation and change is not only possible but guaranteed.

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We pray: Lord, we come before you poor, blind, held captive to sin. Forgive us, open our eyes, release us to realize the freedom we have to act through you. We ask this in your Holy Name. Amen.