Saturday, January 11, 2014

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Isaiah 61: 1 - 9

When I read the opening words of this passage, I immediately recognize them as what Jesus read in the synagogue that first time.  Almost at the same time, I hear Jesus saying, Follow Me.

Hmmm.  Does that mean that God is calling me to the same mission?  To speak good news to those whose spirits are broken, to heal the broken hearted.  To help free those who are made captive - perhaps by poverty, mental illness, addictions, loneliness...  To pardon those whose sense of guilt and shame keeps them prisoners.  To comfort those who grieve, or who experience the sadness of depression.

I read further:  God sent (sends!!) me to announce His grace .. to give bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom.

When I hear this passage as speaking to and challenging me in my 21st century world, not leaving it as words of ancient prophecy, or as words that only Jesus could/should speak, I am amazed at how relevant the passage is.  Our world does tend to focus on bad news, to focus on blaming people for the sorry states they may find themselves in.  While we are not being told to say that bad things are not really there, our response is to bring grace, healing and joy.  The birth of Jesus in our hearts grows if we nurture it, feeding on God’s grace to us and sharing it with all in need, all who mourn.

The passage ends by saying that such behaviour will cause others to say, “Those are people whom God has blessed.” Hmmm, Emmanuel  -  God with us.

Blessings

-Ann Kelland