Bring Good News

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.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ 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. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. Luke 4:14-30

Good news and unconditional love are not always welcome things. Folks who crave power and control need to keep others down to get their way. When we talk about good news to the poor, setting the prisoners free, healing and release for the oppressed, the people who need to be in power react violently. This was the reaction that Jesus received when he read from the scriptures, from the word of God. Our Creator has been unconditional love, freedom, healing and liberation from the beginning. When we see people oppose those things, we know we are called to love more and serve the least among us.

Loving Creator, you bring good news always

in every season you provide healing and release

you smile on the poor and the abused and blind

and wrap them in your blanket of eternal love.

We live in a time when love is a thing of weakness

where power and fame have deep roots here

and we feel powerless to find love and deep strength

to defy the powers of selfishness and cruelty.

Make us your followers again, so we might serve

take our pride and fear from us and give us strength

as we bring your love and healing in dark times

and share your unconditional love with the world. Amen.