THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY January 26, 2025

Introductory Thoughts
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus’ very first public act is to preach the Good News Sermon we will hear in today’s Gospel. Thinking back to last week’s Gospel reading from John, we witness the first public act recorded in that Gospel-turning water to wine. Looking at these two ‘first acts’ of Jesus reveals much about who Jesus is and a lot about the sort of community of followers he intends to build.

Prayer of the Day
Blessed Lord God, you have caused the holy scriptures to be written for the nourishment of your people. Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, comforted by your promises, we may embrace and forever hold fast to the hope of eternal life, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 4:14-21
14 Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 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 set free those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 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. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Sermon
Please, read ahead or at least know that Jesus’ first sermon wasn’t applauded by everyone. Doubtless, you’ve heard something this week about “The Sermon” preached at the U.S. National Cathedral. More can be said later. For today, consider that not everybody receives “Good News as Good News” Today, let’s allow the words from the prophet Isaiah that Jesus reads in synagogue speak. Notice how the words to resonate in our ears. May we cling to the hope in Jesus’ words that promises are fulfilled even as we hear them proclaimed. Good News to the Poor Consider that three of the world’s richest people have accrued more than 223 billion dollars in three months since the U.S. Presidential election. In some 2,000 instances, the Bible advocates care for the poor. People in Isaiah’s time strongly suspected that the super rich, accrued excessive wealth from the blood sweat and tears of the poor. Jesus says his timeline for Good news for the poor is today; no promise of relief in the sweet bye and bye, pie in the sky. Release of the captives People overwhelmed by debt could be imprisoned as were prisoners of war and conscientious objectors. Captives aren’t always hardened criminals. Bryan Stephenson writes in his book Just Mercy that many in the US prison system suffer mental illness, addiction or have significant intellectual disability. Where is good news for these captives? Sight to the blind Navigating a world meant for sighted people would be bad enough. Social isolation and marginalization compounds the physical limitations. Worse still, people in Jesus’ time—even his own followers suspected that people couldn’t see because either they sinned or their family sinned. The prophet declares sight, and Jesus will bring it. Freedom for the oppressed-A list of people NOT oppressed would be far shorter than a list of those oppressed. In our time, kids who are cyber bullied, people who spend 50-70 percent of their income in housing, LGBTQ teens and young adults, those with mental illness or addiction all live under oppression—and Jesus proclaims freedom for them. To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour: Isaiah’s words allude to an ideal that never gained traction. A year of favour—called a year of jubilee would bring forgiveness of debts and ceding land back to those whose debt caused them to lose it. Jesus reinvokes the hope of fresh starts and a better life. Luke’s oft repeated favourite word in his writing is “today”. Jesus declares “today” the prophet’s words of Good News would be fulfilled even as the words reverberate in the room and the ears of those listening. That day, Jesus departs the synagogue so that on many other “today’s” he will heal, liberate, include, forgive, and welcome people desperate for good news.