Thought for Today
Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy God's favor.
Isaiah 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
Luke 4:21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
“Verses we read countless times are realized in new ways as the Spirit brings life to them. Words written centuries ago continue to be relevant as we fix our eyes on Jesus in expectation. Today is the day that the promises of Scripture are realized as we follow the One who proclaims the Lord’s favor.” (These Days, January 31, 2025)
Since I was first asked to teach a Bible study, more than 50 years ago, I have been amazed by and convinced of the perpetual relevance of scripture. Words captured and remembered from the earliest memories of our ancestors-in-the-faith are meaningful and applicable to the issues and problems of the 21st century. Daily, I am reminded that they are specifically important, meaningful and relevant to my own life.
Those words above from today’s devotional are a reflection on the passage we have been reading in worship for the past 2 Sundays. We will look at the passage again this coming Sunday. Luke 4:14-30 recounts Jesus’ return to his hometown of Nazareth in the region of Galilee, his worship in the synagogue there when he read from the Isaiah scroll. Those words above from Isaiah evoked a strong reaction from the congregation. Initially a positive reaction; but, on hearing verse 21 and the remainder of the pericope, that reaction turned into an extremely negative reaction.
I believe all of us see Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled in our lives each and every day. Jesus read, "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."
Too often we tend to equate ‘poor’ to ‘economically disadvantaged.’ To be poor in that sense would certainly be included in the prophecy. In John 12:8 Jesus acknowledges, “You always have the poor with you . . . “ But there are many ways people are poor, disadvantaged. Some people are ‘poor in spirit,’ discouraged, depressed, without hope. Some people drift listlessly through life without purpose or meaning in their lives.
In all of these things, if we look around us, Jesus is fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. The recent pandemic did uncover the prevalence of food and housing insecurity even in our own country. But, numerous food pantries sprang up to augment the already existing food pantries in our country. Irrespective of whether or not all of those organizers and volunteers were aware of the fact, they were “anointed” by the Holy Spirit “to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners,” to alleviate the suffering of those oppressed by that insecurity, captive to hunger and homelessness, prisoners of their lack and need.
First Parish Community Food Pantry is one of many volunteer organizations demonstrating Jesus’ fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. The pantry operates exclusively through volunteers, fighting food insecurity entirely with donations from companies and individuals. It is one of many such organizations responding to those words of Isaiah and Jesus. Even though some of those volunteers are not believers, not part of any faith tradition, they are living out the promise. I believe they are anointed by the Holy Spirit, irrespective of whether or not they are aware of it or even believe in the Holy Spirit.
In Texas, I was for a short period, part of a prison ministry. Like the food pantries, it was an organization of volunteers operating entirely on donations. Like the food pantries, it changed lives both of those serving and those served.
Look around today. Where do you see in your life and in our world examples of the fulfillment of God’s promise? Make a list! Check it more than twice! Help make this “the year of the Lord's favor."
Stay safe, be part of the answer to the problems, trust God,
Pastor Ray