I rejoice in hearing the word of the Lord. I acknowledge my sinfulness to God. I am not as sure that I truly hear or truly respond to the call. I am aware how much God loves me, I mean, God really loves me and I take great solice in that, great comfort. This knowledge gives me peace. I wonder if I allow myself to wallow in some quiet realm of self righteousness. I read today's passage and I imagine myself sitting in the synagogue as Jesus unfolds the scroll and reads.
I notice the words that are used.
good news to the poor
release of the captives
recovery of sight
oppressed go free.
Then Jesus notes how most of the people are not going to get the message or they will reject it because of who it is that's giving the message. Jesus says this to people who are already in the synagogue, the people one would think are ready to listen, ready to see, ready to help. Jesus should be preaching to the choir so to speak. If I am one of the ones sitting it that synagogue, how would I react?
The real questions is, how do I react? While I am aware of my own sinfulness, do I take it enough to heart to change? As an oppressed person, do I hold some level of self righteousness that some how allows me to think I am better than them? who ever they are.
I know God loves me but is God weeping because the one he loves ( me ) is not getting the message He sends? What will it take for me to truly hear and truly see? Surely I am not the worst but is that an excuse I can hold like a trump card? Better by comparison. Who am I to judge.
If today allows some quiet time I think I should ponder and reflect on what is going on around me and perhaps most importantly, what going on within me.
How about you?
Luke 4:16-30
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 favour.’
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.
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