Luke 4:18-19
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.
There are times when I feel so acutely the limitations of my personal experience, the things I simply cannot understand as a person of great privilege. What do I know about poverty or oppression? When have I ever been held captive?
I could move to metaphor, as I’m inclined to do. I could muse poetically about being held captive by fear and grief, regret and guilt. I could write about the release Jesus has proclaimed to me through those gentle invitations that come by way of bare-branched trees and the rush of the river.
And all of that would be true.
But I’m not sure it would be entirely faithful to this word Jesus speaks when he stands up in his home synagogue near the very beginning of his public ministry. He declares not only his mission, but his very identity, using the words of the prophet Isaiah. When he’s done reading, he says this: Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.
This is not only what Jesus is all about. This is who he is–good news for the poor, release for the captives, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed, God’s commanded jubilee year embodied–cancellation of debts and sabbath rest for all creation.
So if I profess to follow him…if I consider myself his disciple…then this is what I’m called to be about too. Actual good news for the vast majority of this world’s people who live in poverty I can’t begin to imagine. Actual release for imprisoned ones held captive in an unjust prison system. Actual healing–of body, mind, and spirit–that may very well need to come, in this country, through actual healthcare reform. Actual freedom for the ones oppressed by unequal distribution of wealth and power.
Our personal experiences may be limited, but Jesus’ call and claim on our lives empowers us to see the world as he sees it, to stand on the side of true freedom–real release–for all God’s beloved ones.
Come, Jesus, come. Release us from anything that would limit our love. Free us to love one another as you love us. Amen.
Today’s accompanying song is We’ll All Be Free by William Matthews.