Our readings this week come from Nehemiah and the Gospel according to Luke.  Both reading reflect on teaching from the book of the law.  Nehemiah teaches for hours explaining the law of Moses so that they understood and he proclaims in the conclusion Today is a special day for God, a holy day....Be happy.  You will be strong when you find your joy in God. Great message that is a good segue to the Gospel reading.  In the Gospel reading Jesus is teaching in the synagogues.  On the Sabbath day he stood to read from the book of the prophet Isaiah from which he reads Isaiah 61 (listen here to song of Isaiah 61) whereupon he declares that what the Lord has proclaimed through Isaiah has come true, that He, Jesus, is the One annointed by God and sent to bring Good News to the poor, proclaim freedom to those oppressed, give sight to the blind and announce a special time of blessing from God.  

So begins the ministry of Christ Jesus.  He will go on to fulfill the entire prophesy of Isaiah as the anointed Son of God.  But we too are anointed.  We were baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit.  We, too, are sent forth to bring Good News to the poor, proclaim freedom to the oppressed and give sight to the blind.  Those sound like things we cannot do, though, because they sound like the miracles that Jesus performed and we do not have faith strong enough to perform miracles!  Ah...but there is also symbolism in the words spoken.  The Good News is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We can certainly "proclaim the Good News" by word and action.  Our behavior speaks louder than words often times.  We should be trying every day to lead a life that is Christ-like, a life that continually brings us closer to God.  We can proclaim freedom to those oppressed...this doesn't just mean people who are under political oppression.  What about people oppressed by their own sins?  Oppressed by bad influences in their lives?  We can help those people by gently guiding them to Jesus, whose sacrifice will heal all wounds of the spirit, including, and especially, sins. We can give sight to the blind.  People can be "blind" to the reality of Jesus and his sacrifice made for ALL.  If they cannot "see" Jesus for who and what he is, how can they find healing in his merciful heart?  It was indeed "a special time of blessing from God" when God walked among us as a man, Jesus.  Amen.

We must use our own particular talents given to us by the Holy Spirit to help others find the Truth and the Light that is Jesus Christ.  We continue the mission that Jesus began.

The Psalm this week is Psalm 19 Your Words are Spirit and Life, number 586 in Breaking Bread.  I think we have all sung this a hundred times!

God bless,

Elaine