God’s Story Is Our Story: From Genesis To JesusSample

Reflecting on the last week: In Luke, Jesus begins his ministry with this reading from the prophet Isaiah. His claim about its fulfillment almost got him killed on the spot (Luke 4:29). Why? Because he applied this promise of radical healing and freedom not only to Israel, but also to the surrounding nations. In fact, he subtly suggested that Israel’s hard-heartedness toward him would cause them to forfeit this promise altogether. Whether it was ethnocentrism, nationalism, or something else all together, they could not handle this message. Today, we also are tempted to limit the benefits of God’s kingdom to people who look like us, share our nationality and our status. It is surprising how easily we contort the gospel so that it fits into our worldview, which supports our particular way of living, thinking, acting and feeling. But Jesus blows up the boundary lines we draw: God’s blessings are for all people. Who do we feel tempted to exclude? To judge or look down upon? To avoid and ignore? Jesus is announcing a day of the Lord’s favor where precisely those who are poor, blind and enslaved (both physically and spiritually) are invited to experience God’s grace, life, love, justice and mercy. That offer is for every person who has not accepted it. For those who have, we must ask: How can we, as Christ’s body, show his love to such people in our lives?