Third Sunday after Epiphany

January 26, 2025

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Psalm 19

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Luke 4:14-21

A highlight for me this week was meeting up with two childhood friends. 

Our meet ups are infrequent yet consistent. 

Time and space dictate the possibilities because

my childhood besties have move around the world - 

one to the southern states and three to Australia while only a few remain in London. 

And me, well I’ve moved around too.

So when one is in town from afar,

we make it a point to meet up even if briefly. 

So, I made the adventure back to my hometown.

A place that holds more good memories than bad. 

To meet friends whom I’ve known since kindergarten, 

who have journeyed through the awkwardness of growing up, 

the shenanigans of youth, 

and learning about the beauty and pain of the world. 

To times when interests take us in different directions,

and connecting as mature adults.

I’ve returned to my hometown after being on the mountain top 

but also after walking through the wilderness. 

Hometowns don’t freeze in time. 

They transform, just as we transform.

~

Jesus, just a young fellow returns to his hometown

after being in the Judean wilderness, 

for 40 days and nights, 

after facing the temptations of ultimate power, greed, wealth… 

Jesus emerges,

to teach in their synagogues.  

To a synagogue in Nazareth he goes that was made up of

men, women, leaders, noble folks, the poor, the diseased and possessed,

the wealthy, freed persons, masters, and enslaved,

suggests theologian, Mitzi Smith.

Jesus unrolls the scroll of Isaiah and starts to read.

…about freedom from oppression

…healing and wholeness

…recovery from that which makes us unable to see.  

… about mercy.

Jesus was reading a dangerous text.

Jesus was preaching a dangerous sermon.

Mercy can enrage some.

Those who are in the business of oppression, 

don’t take kindly to words that the oppressed will go free. 

If you’re wanting to go back in time, 

good news about transformation might rub you the wrong way.  

If power is threatened, 

proclaiming dignity for all might be the last straw ….

Yet,

Jesus does not make peace with oppression.   (Words from a lovely prayer not mine.)

While there are a few feathers in his cap,

and all are praising this young fellow,

we know where this is going.

We hear, there was a report about Jesus 

circulating and spreading throughout the region. 

Jesus was going viral. 

Word of mouth viral. 

Some in his hometown question: Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? 

Well, don’t let praise fool you.

Jesus soon comes under the wrath of his home town.

Later, the people choose Barabbas the insurrectionist to set free.

Jesus the merciful welcoming healer, 

the prince of peace,

will be led to Golgotha.  

Still,

Jesus returns to his hometown.

Renewed in the waters of baptism,

focused from time in the wilderness,

on a mission to transform the world,

one person at a time,

comforting one distraught soul at at time.

~

This week has been witness to a great divide. 

The cracks are glaring.  

Such a big chasm that it seems as if the world may split in two. 

The most vulnerable will be hurt or lost or taken or left unemployed or silenced. 

We fear the consequences of such a divide.

A crack reveals a lot.

The political landscape of our sister country to the south, 

sees ripples to the north and even closer to home.

For many, what we are witnessing is antithetical 

to what it means to be a Christian in the world. 

To love God, neighbour and self. 

To do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God. 

In baptism, promises are made for the newly baptized.  

care for others and the world God made,

and work for justice and peace.

These words were added to the ELW baptismal liturgy published in 2006 to give more flesh to the LBW promises published in 1978 that called us to lead to lead godly lives until the day of Jesus Christ. 

To live godly lives also involves

care for others and the world God made,

and work for justice and peace.

At a time when the cracks are glaring 

it appears as if there is blindness in the land.

For me this Gospel speaks a word of comfort for situations like this, 

when it seems like the blind are leading the blind.

The Gospels helps us to have hope beyond the large cracks, 

giving a word of promise that God is at work on both sides of the chasm.

Jesus reads from he scroll of Isaiah (which becomes a mission of ministry) 

the blind will recover their sight. 

We know many Jesus stories of the physically blind recovering sight in scripture. 

There is another type of blindness in the world.

A Spiritual blindness to God’s way.

One that is far more detrimental to the thriving of creation.

Recovery of sight to the blind...

holds all in prayer and hope who don’t realize they are causing harm or need to be forgiven.

Recovery of sight to the blind...

encompasses all who are missing the mark and are confused about God’s way

Recovery of sight to the blind...

holds up the mirror to all of us, to recognize that we all have logs in our eyes, and the response that is need is love. 

So I’ll pray for those who are blinded by wealth, greed and power, 

for those whose actions are harmful to others.

I’ll pray for those who act antithetical to the Gospel. 

I’ll pray, 

For hardened hearts to open.

For the blind see, (and yes sometimes that includes me)

For eyes of faith to recognize and contribute towards the dignity of all people. 

For the church and all people to be instruments of peace and justice in the world.

But I’ll also act, in word and body, to make ripples of love in the world that can be harsh,

and devoid of love and compassion. 

Will you be a ripple with me?

~

As the message translation says:

This is God’s time to shine.  

This is also the churches time to shine.

The transformation that I’d like to see is that the church -

this community hub taking shape here at 54 Benton-

has a multifaceted approach to the healing and wholeness of creation.

St. Matthews 2.0 

A place that nurtures healing and wholeness in individuals and all of creation.

A place where together we bring forth a new creation that isn’t just about survival.

No, this new creation means that all thrive.

That we live, and laugh and love and support one another in struggles.

There’s no doubt that the arts have the power to transform.

Music is medicine.

Art is therapy and expression.

Perhaps this is more than an arts hub.

Exercise brings peace, determination.

Education brings freedom, confidence…

Community shows us what it means to belong, and to have a voice at the table that is heard and respected.

Service brings joy.

What else contributes to the healing and wholeness of all creation?

St. Matthews 2.0 a place of healing and wholeness and more.

~

Jesus went back to his hometown,

loving the people in spite of their fickleness. 

With a mission to bring all home to the creator, 

with a prayer that all of creation be at home,

with God,

where ever they may be.