Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10 • Psalm 71:1-6 • 1 Corinthians
13:1-13 • Luke 4:21-30
In the season of Epiphany, we have considered Jesus' baptism, his first miracle, and last week his first sermon. This week we get part II of his sermon in his home town of Nazareth. Epiphany celebrates the light come into the world in God's time. We have been studying the new ways to look at things, to grow as a church and as God's people, illuminated by God's love.
This week Jesus chose his home town to inaugurate his mission, pointedly, not just to the "home team," the Jews, but to the whole world. The poor will be fed, the blind will see, the captives will be set free, the oppressed freed, and God's Jubilee is thrown open to all. Why do you think Jesus said and did this in his home town? What was their reaction?
Once again we are called to account for our actions and expectations. Once again we must ask who Jesus is, and who we are. See The Rev. Danae Ashley's "Putting God's Expectations Above Our Own," and The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright's "Love is for Grownups," which ties in St. Paul's beautiful "love chapter" from 1st Corinthians with the message Jesus brings to us from Nazareth.
Scripture: Nehemiah
8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 • Psalm
19 • 1
Corinthians 12:12-31a • Luke
4:14-21
In this age of immediacy, "reality shows," and the "in your face" media and way of "communicating" today, is there anything left for our imaginations - for mystery, and hopeful expectancy?
This third week of the Epiphany season, Jesus takes us into an exciting new enlightenment between tradition and revelation, as the Word made flesh launches his mission in his home town of Nazareth. Jesus came filled with the Holy Spirit, and had gained fame and praise throughout the surrounding country. He unrolled the scroll, stood and read from the prophet Isaiah: "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." What powerful, inspiring words to a poor, oppressed, occupied people! As he sat to teach, in the custom of rabbis, you probably could have heard a pin drop, as they waited with "all eyes fixed on him" in hopeful expectation of what their favorite son would have to say. And then something totally unexpected, something beyond awesome happened. Jesus said "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." What was the reaction of his fellow villagers? What were their expectations? What would our expectations have been. Now that we know the "rest of the story," what are our expectations for our church and our mission today?
The Rev. Rick Morley in "eyes fixed," asks us what do we expect from our church experience, and for our church? "But, how many of us go to church really expecting the Spirit of God to actually show up? Do we expect news so good that it might shatter the despair of the poor? Do we expect release, recovery, and the ending of oppression?... Do we go to church looking to fulfill our own (oftentimes paltry, self-centered) expectations? Or, do we come ready and open to see God’s expectations manifest themselves before our very eyes?"
Dr. W. Scott Dillard invites us to see who Jesus really is with wonderful anecdotes, acknowledging the heritage of tradition, while showing us the revelation of God, true God from true God, true light from true light in "The Nature of Revelation: Jesus' Sermon at Nazareth.
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
The second week of Epiphany we return to the baptism of the Lord - Luke's account in Year C. Luke treats us to the marvelous picture of the dove descending, and those beautiful words "This is my son in whom I am well pleased." What is happening here? See "God Believes in You" by the Rev. Dr. Joanna Adams.
I especially liked the following story from the Fred Craddock Stories about the man who lived ashamed and ostracized because of the status of his paternity: "One day, before I could escape, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was the minister. He looked closely at my face. I knew that he too was trying to guess who my father was. 'Well, boy, you are a child of. . .' and then he paused. When he spoke again he said, 'Boy, you are a child of God. I see a striking resemblance.' Then he swatted me on the bottom and said, 'Now, you go on and claim your inheritance.' I left church that day a different person," the now elderly man said. "In fact, that was the beginning of my life." "What's your
name?" Dr. Craddock asked.
He answered, "Ben
Hooper. My name is Ben Hooper." Dr. Craddock said he vaguely
recalled from when he was a kid, his father talking about how the people of
Tennessee had twice elected a fellow who had been born out of wedlock as the
governor of their state. His name was Ben Hooper.
The Rev. Jane Bearden finds the answer to these questions in the baptism of Christ Who am I? Am I really a vital part of
family? Do I have any gifts that are valuable? Where do I
belong? Am I really deserving of love? See "The Baptism of Christ."
How many times have you told your children, grandchildren, or for that matter, all God's children, "You are a child of God, whom he loves, claims, and in whom he is well pleased?"
Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
This is the Sunday of the Epiphany, with the gospel account of the wise men following the light of the star, consulting with an evil King, searching for the righteous King. What did they find? Compare or contrast King Herod with the King of Kings. Even David, in Psalm 72, envisioned Matthew's account of the wise men and the righteous King of Glory.
The Rev. Ken Kesselus, in "'Us,' and 'Them'," considers the gospel and today's passage from Paul's letter to the Ephesians and tells us that the story of wise men paying homage to the Christ child marks the beginning of a new understanding. It is the story of a God of all people, a God of unity, a God who moves his people beyond the trap of “us” against “them.” This is especially relevant in the pervasive divisiveness in our country, and the world today.
The Rev. Kate Huey, in "Where is the Child?" tells us "There are many ways that we 'find our way' to God, to the little baby born King of Kings: nature does indeed point to the glory of God, the care of God, the presence of God, but we need the Bible, too, and the community that helps us understand all those gifts. She asks "When were times that you felt you were seeking God in your life? Was it only at times of need or suffering, or was it an intellectual search, or did it come from a deep, personal hunger for meaning? How faithful were you, and diligent, in the search? How do you think people seek God today? What are the paths and things and methods that help people "find" their way to God? How might the star in the Matthew reading represent nature as it "points" to God, personal experience, and the community that helps us understand all those gifts?"
* Remember, Sunday School meets at 8:30 during the season of Epiphany, for the next six weeks.
