Good News Bringers

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. [Luke 4:18-19 NRSV]

Jesus is in his hometown. According to Luke, he has been invited to preach in the synagogue. This is the first act of Jesus' public ministry that Luke records in his gospel so it's a big deal. If it had occurred in our day and age, digital cameras would be clicking away and pictures from the event would appear on Joseph and Mary's Facebook page as soon as they got home from worship!

What would Jesus say? As guest preacher in the synagogue, Jesus was free to choose any passage form the prophets he wanted to preach on. He chose Isaiah which was written during the time of the exile in Babylon. It is a powerful message of deliverance that would define his ministry, especially as it is recorded in the gospel of Luke. More than any other gospel, Luke has a soft spot for the poor and oppressed. So it is not surprising that he chose to emphasize this aspect of Jesus' ministry as he wrote his gospel.

When Jesus finished reading from the scroll, he proclaimed "Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Notice the sense of urgency in his words. Not tomorrow. Not when he could fit it into his busy schedule. Today this text would come to life through his words and deeds.

Do we have the same sense of urgency when it comes to bringing good news to the poor and oppressed? Sure our hearts and our cash is pouring into Haiti this week but, let's be honest, in a few months or weeks we'll forget all about it just like we did with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Tsunami in Asia. We're a little bit ADD in America when it comes to staying the course. We are often distracted by shiny things such as the latest celebrity news or obtaining that new, must-have item.

Perhaps we can find the strength within ourselves to make 2010 the "year of the Lord's favor." Perhaps we can commit ourselves to being good news bringers to those who are impoverished in body, mind and spirit. Perhaps we can open the eyes of those who are blinded by wealth, image, prosperity and celebrity. Perhaps we can be a voice for those who are oppressed, baet down, victimized and abused for a number of reasons including their sexual orientation or gender identity.

I believe that Isaiah's words we meant, not only for Jesus, but for us as well. I pray we will have to strength and conviction to make them come alive in our churches, our community and throughout the world.

When Joy Runs Dry

Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from...the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” [John 2:6-10, NRSV]

Last Sunday's gospel lesson asks the question "What do we do when the wine runs dry?" On the surface of this text from John we have a wedding feast. In Jesus' day and age, a typical wedding feast lasted seven days. This is only the third day and there is no more wine! Isn't life like that sometimes? Maybe it's because of a struggle with illness or the death of a loved one. Maybe it's because we're wrestling with our sexual identity or facing financial difficulties. Maybe it's because of doubts we have about God but are too afraid to share those doubts with anyone. Whatever the case may be, we all know what it feels like to be in the third day of a seven day feast and there is no more wine.

The good news of the gospel text is that Jesus is a joy bringer who fills our cups to overflowing. Notice that there is no mention in John's gospel that Jesus disapproved of the celebration and sat in the corner with a frown on his face. In fact, in my heart of hearts, I can picture Jesus doing the chicken dance or leading the crowd in the electric slide. Jesus is a joy bringer and the amount of wine he produced would have been enough for the entire seven day wedding feast and then some!

Now, I'm not saying that Jesus is going to bless us materially, but the kind of joy he promises us shines from the inside out. It is the kind of joy that keeps our hearts buoyant no matter how difficult life may seem. Its the kind of joy we hear in the voices of the Haitians this week who, in spite of unimaginable loss, are still singing praises to God. Hopefully, we can learn to do the same.

Do Not Fear, Part 2

This past Sunday, as part of my sermon, I offered the following paraphrase of Isaiah 43:1-3. It's loosely based on the Hebrew. However, I translated it with a poet's eye instead of a scholar's eye. I hope it helps my readers to appreciate the meaning behind this beautiful text:

A love song from the Eternal One
Who birthed you and raised you;
Who molded your person and your character:

"Do not fear, my beloved, do not fear!
I have claimed you as my own.
I have named you and consider you family.
You are my prized possession
Which I have obtained at a tremendous cost!

When you feel like you are
Barely keeping your head above water,
I'll be with you!
I won't let you drown!

When life gets too hot to handle
I'll make you fireproof!
You will get through this
And emerge unscorched!

For I am the Eternal One,
Your Sanctuary, Your Safety Net."

Copyright © 2010. David Eck. Used by permission.

Do Not Fear

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." [Isaiah 43:1-3, NRSV]

Christmas is finally behind us! The shepherds have gone back to their fields. The Epiphany magi have left their gifts and headed for home. Mary is done pondering in her heart and is busy washing diapers and feeding the baby. Joseph is doing whatever Joseph does. We begin a new year and a new decade. And the first words of Scripture we hear on the first Sunday of Epiphany are those posted above. "Do not fear." Sign me up for that!

There is a great deal to be fearful about in or world today. We are fearful about our economy and global warming. We are fearful about health care as well as our ability to pay our bills. LGBT people also have their own fears such as fear of being rejected by family and friends. Fear of becoming the victim of a hate crime or losing our jobs.

As we face the clean slate of a new year, examining our fears for just a moment, we hear the voice of God speaking to us through the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Do not fear.” These words are a love letter from the Eternal One; a life preserver when we feel like we're drowning. They remind us that we can face the future without fear, because God promises to walk with us! When we feel like were barely keeping our heads above water; when life gets to hot to handle, God has our back! This is most certainly good news indeed. Therefore, my LGBT brothers and sisters, let us face the new year with quiet strength knowing that the God who created the Universe journeys with us!