26 Jan Sermon – Sunday, January 26, 2025
Some of you may remember, back in the day, when no one owned movies. If you wanted to watch something, you had to wait until it was offered on television at a certain day and time according to a schedule printed in the newspaper or a weekly magazine known as the TV Guide. Remember those days? Then eventually, anyone could borrow movies from a library or rent them from a store.
Only in the last twenty years or so, has it become possible for people to own media or choose exactly when to watch movies. I know it’s hard to believe, right? And back in Jesus’ day, no one owned a Bible. Books weren’t even a thing yet.
Access to scripture, God’s Holy Word was restricted and privileged. Scripture was orally transmitted and eventually transcribed into text which could be handled only by religious authorities. Scripture was available only at limited times, and when it was able to be heard, it could only be heard by those permitted to gather within temple walls.
Hearing scripture read aloud was a big deal back then. Think of what it’s like to experience anything deemed special or rare. It’s major and holds the potential to make a big impact. Think of how your ears perk up when during your favorite tv show you suddenly hear, “We interrupt this regularly scheduled broadcast to bring you live breaking news.”
At least back in the day, they didn’t make those interruptions for news that could wait until a “normal” news time slot.
Scripture read aloud was big news even though generations had heard it spoken and prayed out loud their entire lives. They only ever heard it in parts. The entire treasury was like a secret document rarely publicly disclosed. Each scroll was like a sealed deposition that occasionally became unsealed only by the hands of those deemed worthy.
So in today’s gospel passage, what had once been hidden and available to only a select few is revealed. Starting now, the everyday person, the common man, woman or child, the rich and poor, young and old, well educated or not, everyone within earshot suddenly gains the security clearance needed. Now each and everyone may become aware of what was once only privy to a select few.
This happening is yet another example of how a thing can’t happen and a person can’t do, without first receiving what’s needed beforehand. No one can advance to the second step before approaching the first. Not even Jesus can go or do without receiving a direct provision from God: that thing which is supplied or provided for a specific reason or use.
In Jesus’ case the necessary provision for him being able to teach, preach the good news, heal those who were blind, or free those held captive was for him to first become filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. This provision enabled Jesus to return to the place of his upbringing and claim his identity.
Becoming filled with the power of the Holy Spirit enabled Jesus to assume a role based on a primary purpose unbeknownst to those around him. Without that provision from God, those present would have immediately questioned his actions and authority. But because God did provide the means, a report about Jesus spread through all the surrounding country and when he began to teach, he was praised by everyone.
That’s unheard of, right? At this moment, Jesus has achieved record favorability among the polls taken. Why? Because he was filled with the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Think about what we say during our profession of faith, The Apostle’s Creed. “I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Scripture as we hear it read today continues to prove that Jesus is who he says he is. His calling was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah. His mission was written down on a scroll that eventually was placed into Jesus’ hands.
Picture it. The Book of Isaiah is the only biblical scroll ever found in complete form. On that day, God took his own word in his then thirty year old human hands and proceeded to remove the scroll’s outer covering of linen. Then he began to unroll the sheepskin parchment.
His human eyes began to search through the 24 and a half foot long scroll with 54 columns and over sixteen hundred lines until they reached where the words, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,” were written. “The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, Jesus of Nazareth.
The important matter of having the Spirit of the Lord conferred upon Jesus had been described in detail over 600 years beforehand, and now the matter has been fulfilled in the people’s presence. They have experienced the fulfillment of scripture witnessed by sight and sound. I guess Sight and Sound is a pretty good name for a theatre where Bible stories come to life.
Scripture also says, “Jesus went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom.” How important it is for us to hear that going to the synagogue/church on a weekly basis as a matter of discipline and habit is sanctioned by none other than Jesus, God in the flesh. He also demonstrates that participating in the worship service by standing up to read scripture is a god thing and a good thing. And we learn that paying attention to what is read is really important too.
What is the purpose of being anointed by God’s Holy Spirit, of receiving the gift that God bestows upon every baptized Christian? The indwelling Spirit empowers Jesus to bring good news to the poor, release to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Here was Jesus describing what his future term as a leader would be known for and what his administration would look like. Here was Jesus explaining how he was preordained to Make Israel Great Again, to make things better than ever before, to undo and right whatever has held people back from full productivity, to do whatever it takes to help people thrive both financially and personally.
But most importantly, what Jesus reads from the scroll is about fulfilling these grand objectives for all: for all who suffer, for all who do without, for all who cannot improve things for themselves. God will be glorified when God’s people can thrive and are free from every type of bongage, real imprisonment or slavery to sin.
As Paul wrote to the people of Corinth, a spiritual gift cannot betray its true origin. It won’t contradict God’s will or deny giving God the glory. Gifts come via only one Spirit, though they are expressed by a variety of means. The same God activates every good gift.
What distinguishes all of them is that each of them is given for the common good, to promote wisdom and healing, to work miracles, to reveal truth, to increase discernment and the success of interpretation so that all may understand what it is that the Spirit aims to accomplish, what the Spirit chooses to express among God’s people for their benefit.
The Spirit of the Lord is an enabler in the best, healthiest sense of the word. I love the detailed scene portrayed by Luke. “And Jesus 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.””
Paul says, “We are one body with many members as it is with Christ. By one Spirit we are all baptized and made to drink of one Spirit. We all belong together as one and cannot say that we are more or less important than any other single member. God arranged the members as he chose and gave the body a need for each. There is no greater honor or respect paid to some though we clothe them according to our preferences. Nonetheless, they all require the same care since if one member suffers, all suffer together and if one is honored, all may rejoice in unison.
I am pleased to witness the ways that I’ve seen you care for one another. And nothing pleases me more than to see our congregations and communities working together, celebrating and/or suffering together because each feels the other’s joys and sorrows, directly or indirectly.
That’s the goal for which to strive: To appreciate the strength of us all being different and to bond over our similarities so that every way we come to know each other will help everyone get through life’s trials easier and overall, sweetens all of life’s experiences. Know who you are and what you’re about. What’s your purpose? What will you make of your life?
The other day, I approached Sophie as she lay sleepily atop the memory foam mattress pad covered in a hand sewn quilt made up of her same warm colors: dark caramel browns, tans and white. “Just what have you made of your life, Sophie? Are you quite content and satisfied?”
She looked at me directly with her big bug eyes, freckles and whiskers.
She answered me quite plainly without hesitation and even with some pride. “Well, I have born and raised a litter of puppies. After living on the street, I was rescued and became a faithful companion to Catherine, an elderly lady who chose me from a shelter, for four years until her death.
After that, I moved to the city, adapted and became a devoted companion to you and Steve. What more do you want,” she inquired.
I said, “Nothing more, Sophie. You’ve done quite a lot. That’s sufficient work for a lifetime.” Then I patted her head and rubbed her belly, full of gratitude and admiration. The Spirit of the Lord was upon her.
On the PBS NewsHour, columnist David Brooks quoted former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as saying, “Strength is in our diversity, but power is in our unity.” I’d have to add that strength and power are gifts from God, as are diversity and unity. In fact, all of these positive attributes follow one condition: having been filled with the Spirit.
Let us pray. Your Holy Spirit delivers everything needed before we are able to recognize or praise you, Lord. Help us to see and hear your word, spoken or acted out, through people and other beings chosen by you to teach us what we’ve yet to learn. Enable us to grow in wisdom and discernment, to bless the unfortunate. Keep us united in our efforts to function as your body on earth. In your holy name we pray, Amen.