Tucked in God's Arms

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SCRIPTURE

Third Sunday After Epiphany
Luke 4:14-21 (NRSV)

Jesus reads the prophet Isaiah

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."


SERMON

In today’s Gospel lesson we encounter Jesus reading scripture in the synagogue where he grew up.

Now, he’d been preaching around town a while now, from synagogue to synagogue throughout the surrounding countryside.

But, now, Jesus is at home with the folks who know him and his parents. With people who knew him when he lost his first tooth and learned to read. These are the folks who saw him in his awkward teen years and may have even remembered when his mother was a pregnant unwed girl.

So, it must have come to them as quite a surprise when Jesus read Isaiah’s prophesy and then stated, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Oh my!

Now, today's lectionary passage does not tell us what happened (You'll have to stay tuned for next week). It doesn’t explain what people said in response. It doesn’t give us an entire picture of how his news was received. But, if I had to use my Holy Ghost inspired imagination I would think that there would be some folks who snickered or giggled, others who gasped in outrage, and a small minority that believed and felt awe.

Today, we hear his words again within the context of a community of faith. We hear Jesus saying, “'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."

Now, when Jesus spoke these words, most Bible scholars believe that he was making some literal proclamations. In 2010, we tend to hear these words as Jesus brings good news to the poor—in spirit. He proclaims release to people bound up by sin, illness, depression, or financial struggles.

He gives sight to those who are spiritually blind. He frees those oppressed by sexism, racism, ableism, and other phobias and –isms.

We don’t tend to read this literally as Luke most likely intended. When Jesus said he cared about the poor, captive, blind, and oppressed, he meant it literally, as well as figuratively.

I am very glad about this almost two weeks after the earthquake in Haiti.

Recently a distressed soul sent me a note on Twitter. He said, and this is a direct quote, “There’s not much good news with the Haiti earthquake; where was God then?”

Wow! So many people are asking this question as we are seeing picture after picture on our televisions and computers of poor, hungry, thirsty, homeless, injured, distressed, depressed, and mourning people in Haiti.

It is absolutely devastating to think about the ruin the earthquake and its aftershocks have created in the body, mind, spirit and infrastructure of Haiti and her people. Furthermore, it is infuriating and frustrating to realize how slowly aid is getting to the people.

I recently read in a magazine that about 250,000 people had received food and water rations, but that there were about 3 million in need of them!

Lord, have mercy upon us!

As I ruminate about the Haitian disaster, as well as the many hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick, imprisoned, widowed or orphaned individuals throughout our earth, it brings tears to my eyes.

Indeed, I can almost understand why people have been asking, “Where is God in all of this mess?”

But, today, I am comforted by Jesus’ words as found in Luke. "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

I recently read on one of the aid organization’s website “The earthquake in Haiti was a natural disaster; our response to it will be an act of God.”

Where is God in all of this mess you may ask? God is right there in the midst of it, bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, helping the oppressed go free, and proclaiming the favor of God over all of God’s people.

I have seen God as I watched military personal forming assembly lines as they unloaded planes full of aid. I have seen God as I watched doctors tending the hurt who have been rescued from the rubble. I have seen God as I’ve seen aid workers helping to set up tent cities so that people have someplace to sleep. I have seen God as parents have come forward to adopt Haitian orphans. I have seen God as celebrities and others have participated in telethons which raised much needed money for the relief efforts in Haiti.

And I definitely saw God when a man was pulled out of the rubble after surviving 11 days on beer and cookies. In response to his miracle the man said, "God was tucking me away in his arms. It gave me strength.”

Hallelujah!

I love this man’s quote because it reminds me that in Jesus Christ, we are securely tucked away in the arms of God.

I love God’s hug and I love God’s arms.

When I survey the cross of Jesus, I see God’s hug. As Jesus hung on an old rugged cross, his arms were stretched wide. As he bled and died, God’s love enveloped us forgiving us of our sin, making atonement for our wrong-doing, and opening the door to eternal life in the heavens.

I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that God tucks us away in God’s arms. I am so glad that it is God who gives us strength to overcome the fiery trials and tribulations that come our way. I am so glad that although we walk through the shadow of death, God is with us. God never leaves us, nor forsakes us. We are never alone.

Hear again Jesus’ words of proclamation to us on this day.

'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…Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

This side of the cross, we know that God has done all the work necessary to secure our eternal life. To this I say, Hallelujah!

But, now we are invited to partner with Christ in his work and mission in the Earth. Luke says that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit; and scripture teaches us that Christians are full of that same spirit.

Because we are full of the Spirit of Christ, we too are empowered, enabled, and equipped to partner with Jesus to bring God’s Love into the Earth.

All of us are called to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned, care for the widowed and orphan, proclaim release to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, and make proclamation regarding the Lord’s favor.

Right now, all of us are busy lending our time, talent, and treasure to the people of Haiti and we should! But when CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC forget about this story, we must never forget. When the poor and oppressed do not grace our television screens, they must still be held in our hearts. When celebrities are not calling us to act, we must still hear the voice of Jesus saying, “What you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.”

As Christians we are “good news” people. We bring the good news regarding Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to all who have need of it; and we use words only when necessary.

Let us read good news, share good news, and BE good news today and always.

Peace be with you.

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.


INVITATION

There may be someone who is listening today, who desires to put all of their hope in Jesus. If so, will you please pray with me?

Thank you God that you hold me securely in your arms. Indeed, it does give me strength when I am weak. Thank you that your love and your hug gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. Thank you that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected just as he promised. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit, so that I can partner with you to bring good news to all of your children. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.


SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!