Sunday, January 26, 2025

Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-30

Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.’

We have had some interesting weather this week. We were lucky because the worst of the storm moved east, although that meant others are dealing with what we might have had. We watched the news for days, including the worst day, to make sure that we were ready, that we would remain safe. There’s always some reporter that is out in the weather telling us to stay home. We can’t help but wonder why they tried to make it into work. Why did they risk their lives for the sake of a job? Do they think they are better than everyone else, or more important? Do they think that they are more vital to the city? The truth is that many people stay at a hotel near the station so that they don’t have to drive in the bad weather. While it is still dangerous, because even walking means the possibility of a fall, the television station recognizes the need to have reporters on duty during an emergency and does what is necessary to keep the workers safe and nearby.

Our scriptures this week describe ways that God makes Himself known to His people. He could manifest in a burning bush like He did for Moses or speak in a still small whisper as He did with Elijah, but miraculous signs and unexplainable phenomenon often makes it difficult to really know God’s will and understand His purpose for our lives. So, God also makes Himself known to us in very real and tangible ways. For the Israelites, He gave the Law. Their knowledge of the law was restored as they heard it read by Ezra after the temple was restored to its former beauty.

For the people in our Gospel lesson, God’s Word was a regular part of their lives. They went to the synagogue to hear the Torah and the Prophets read and explained by those who had knowledge and understanding. God revealed Himself in those words by those people. We see this in today’s Gospel lesson as Jesus read and explained the text from Isaiah. Not only was God manifest in the reading, but we learn from this text and Jesus’ explanation that He is the manifestation of God. God also reveals Himself through the Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives to His people. By His power, we become the people who share the Word so that others will see God and believe. God manifests His love for the world through the Body of Christ, the Church, the fellowship of all believers: you and me.

Reporters are not more important than the rest of us; they are using their gifts at a vital time to keep others safe. We may feel useless while we are stuck in our homes, but the day will come when everything will be back to normal, and we can do what we are meant to do to help others. I wonder if those reporters ever wish they were able to stay home, warm and dry, like the rest of us.

There are times when it seems like we are the only ones working in the church, and times when there seems to be nothing of importance for us to do. However, God has brought us together by the power of the Holy Spirit to manifest His love in the world through the Body of Christ, the Church: you and me. We are each important, willed and purposed to glorify God. We are part of one body that is called and gathered to do God’s work in the world. Our gifts are not for our own benefit, but for the whole community, giving for us to love and serve one another and the Lord To-Day.

The lectionary scriptures from the past few months have focused on the people of the exile and the promises of God. Over and over again we heard that God would be with His people, that God would restore His people, that God would restore Jerusalem so that it would be a shining jewel in the world. Now we move from the prophecies to the history of God’s people after the exile, after those promises of God were fulfilled. Our Old Testament passage begins immediately following the rebuilding effort.

The Israelites had been in exile in Babylon, because God used foreign powers to discipline His disobedient children. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of their return to Jerusalem. Jerusalem had been destroyed, walls as torn apart as the hearts of the people. In exile they were far from God, though the separation had happened much earlier. They did not know the law and they did not live according to the word of God. They had forgotten God’s word because they had not kept it close to their heart.

So, once the temple was rebuilt and the people resettled as God fulfilled His promises, Ezra brought the people together to hear the law. They filled the square and stood while they listened, for hours as the words in the book were read. Beginning early in the morning until midday, Ezra read while the Levites translated and interpreted the Word for the people. They were cut to the heart as it was read, they mourned about how they had been living.

The reading of the Law cuts to our hearts because through it we see that we are far from God. Nehemiah counsels the people not to mourn or weep, but to rejoice because God’s Word is filled with grace. God does not seek to punish us but wants to guide and discipline us so that we will be disciples, ready to do His work in the world. He cuts to our heart not to break it but to grasp it in His hand and make it His own. We may not like to discipline our children, but we know it is for their own good. They are at first sad to be scolded but soon realize that their actions are hurtful to others, and our words of love send them off rejoicing. The same is true with us. We might be sad when we realize what we have done wrong, but we can go forth in the knowledge that God is faithful to His promises and His promises are filled with grace.

We often get it backwards. We hear the promises of God but think that we have to get things right with our lives before He can fulfill those promises. Too many people wait to go to church to hear about God’s forgiveness until they feel worthy. They refuse to receive God’s grace because they think they have to earn it. So, they try to obey the law, making it a burden. They believe that once they get it all right, then God can fulfill His promises.

Yet, in this story we see that God did not wait until the people were worthy of His Word; He fulfilled His promises of redemption and restoration before they repented. He answered their mourning with His grace. “Do not cry over the past. You are forgiven and you are mine. Rejoice!” That is what He does for us. He calls us into His heart through baptism and offers the forgiveness that has been bought with the blood of His Son. We spend our lives listening to His Word, learning and growing in His grace. Sometimes we want to mourn as we realize the things we have done wrong. But God says “Rejoice” because the promises have been fulfilled. For the joy of the LORD is our strength.

It is impossible for me to look at any aspect of creation and not see the hand of God. I am amazed by the perfect beauty of a rose. I am awed by the power of a thunderstorm. I am thrilled every time I see a rainbow or a sunrise. Even when I see the more repugnant of God’s creation, like buzzards, I can see God’s hand in the reason and purpose for their existence. The creation sings of God’s majesty and glory.

This is particularly true when we look into the heavens. I don’t know whose vision is better: those of us who live in this modern age with our knowledge of the vastness of the universe, or those who lived before the telescope. We can see stars that are millions of lightyears away, but they could only imagine what was happening on the sphere above the earth. They saw the constancy of the stars, but also the mysteries. The comets and the planets that move visibly to the human eye acted as signs or omens. We may think they were merely superstitious, but it was their way of explaining what they could not explain. I suppose that’s why some would say it is better to live today. We can see what is happening, we know when the comets will come, we see the heavens beyond superstition. We have science to answer our questions without leaving us to our imaginations to understand what is beyond our understanding. Yet, our scientific minds have lost a sense of mystery, and perhaps that sense of awe, because we know that a comet is only a comet and not a sign of impending joy or doom.

God is manifest through His creation. The heavens and earth reveal His glory, but the stars and plants and animals cannot speak. The creation praises God, but we cannot learn of God’s will through their speech. We can see God’s magnificence in creation but cannot know His mind because we need something more. We need a voice to tell us how to live in a relationship with our Creator. The trees bud and the flower blossoms at the right time of year, but they do not have a spirit that can choose to please the Father. Such a gift has been given only to the human race. It is only to men and women that God has given the chance to know Him and choose to follow or reject His will.

Our psalm speaks from two different perspectives: the awesome praise of the creation that cannot willingly obey the Lord and the words that make it possible for us to follow Him. The second half of this psalm talks of God’s Law, the Word which is not spoken by the creation but only by the Creator. It is perfect, it is right, and it is true. We can certainly glorify God with praise like the rest of creation, but we have been given something greater. We have been given the opportunity to live a life that glorifies God by our actions and our words. Sadly, we are imperfect; we fail. We do not follow God’s Law perfectly, so we turn to God for help. It is by God’s word that we can approach the throne of grace with the request found in verse 14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.”

Everything old is new again. I was in a store the other day and saw a Strawberry Shortcake t-shirt. Strawberry Shortcake was popular when I was a teenager. I’ve seen multiple food items in the grocery store that remind me of my childhood. It seems like many of the new movies, television shows, and music are remakes of old favorites. There is a rerelease that we hear on the radio of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight.” The voice sounds like Phil Collins, but the background music is different. We aren’t sure we like it. Unfortunately, remakes are rarely better than the original. They want to make it unique, but we like the old way better, mostly because we have expectations. We reject it because it isn’t like we remember.

There was a television show a few years ago about a company trying to put together a production of the musical “Grease” for live performances on Broadway. They wanted to find the new Danny and Sandy. Most of us are familiar with the image of John Travolta playing the rough street punk Danny and Olivia Newton John playing the Sandy. We can’t imagine Sandy being anything other than a pretty girl from Australia and Danny being that charming rough guy with the amazing eyes and arrogant swagger. No one else would be right for the part. Yet, others have played the roles live on stage, people with different personalities and images.

The show producers did an open casting call in several cities around the country, hoping to find someone who could sing, dance and portray the characters as the writer meant them to be portrayed. It was rather strange to watch some of the actors and actresses come before the panel of judges, because they did not fit into our image of the characters. It was a reality show, so they allowed people who were so unlike what we expect to get through the first round of judging for ratings. The judges admitted also that they didn’t want to be trapped by one particular image; they wanted the right person for the job.

There were a few, however, that were very obviously wrong for the position because they would have been perfect for another character in the show. One gentleman didn’t even realize that the show was strictly for the two characters. He came dressed like the coach and insisted he’d do well in the part. There was another woman who was very old. There was no way she could pass for a sixteen-year-old high school girl. Some of the contestants would have been fantastic as other members of the T-birds or the Pink Ladies, but they would not have passed for Danny or Sandy. The television show is not about producing the entire show, it is only about casting the two rolls, so many of those other rolls had already been filled.

The thing that became obvious, however, is that the musical is nothing without all those other characters. Rizzo and Kenickie are as important as Danny and Sandy. Some of the other characters would be harder to cast because they have such unusual personality quirks, but all the characters are necessary to the storyline, necessary to the final product. You can’t have “Grease” with only two stars. Even the Teen Angel, who appears for only one scene, is vital to the plot.

The passage from Corinthians talks about the different members of the body of Christ. Some seem more important than others, purposed for greatness and vital to the mission of the Church. Yet the others that seem unimportant are also part of God’s plan. Without them the Church would not be whole.

I have become far more confident in my faith, more open about sharing the Gospel and teaching God’s Word, but it took years of work and practice to do so. I once had a conversation with a woman who had heard me share my thoughts on the scriptures. I had spoken about my fear of being in front of the group, how my knees shook, heart pumped, hands sweated. She wasn’t sure if I was telling the truth because I seemed so calm. I was telling the truth; I was really nervous, but I was blessed to be able to give the message, so I willingly faced my fear. She encouraged me and told me that my willingness was a blessing to her. She wanted me to know the impact I’d had. Others have done the same for me, and because of their willingness to be encouragers, I grew in my ability to do what God had called me to do.

When she told me she would never have had the courage to do what I did, I answered that she had other gifts, like the gift of encouragement. I reminded her that people like me who get in front of the crowds to speak need people like her to encourage us to do so. She thought she was unimportant, but her ministry to me in that conversation was greater than anything I might have said in my speech. For it is the encouragement of the little toes that keep our mouths speaking.

Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players...” I am not sure that this is true, but from the stage we are reminded that the troop needs many different kinds of players to make the whole. So does the Church. We need people with a variety of gifts to be able to do the work that God has called us to do. We need stars and we need extras. We need bit parts, and we need understudies. We also need directors, producers, backstage crew, and even the audience. Everyone is part of the whole and without every part, we cannot function.

Today’s Gospel lesson shows us the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He had just returned to the world after being in the wilderness for forty days. He had been tempted by the devil and did not fall because He held tightly to the Word of God. He refused to be led astray by the desires of the flesh. Jesus was then prepared to begin His ministry. Many would seek Jesus for the wrong reasons and try to use Him to fulfill their own agendas, but He was ready to stand firm, even though He would face a world that would not understand His purpose or want what He had to give. They were looking for the fulfillment of certain promises and they would do what they could to ensure that they received those blessings, missing out on the real message God was sending to them in and through Jesus Christ. They thought they could make God fulfill His promises according to their expectations.

The passage begins on a high note with Jesus gaining fame based on what He was saying and doing. He was a charismatic figure in the country; He returned home after His time in the wilderness with something new, a spirit about Him. It was the Spirit of God. He’d been anointed at His baptism, and He grew in power as He faced the trials of temptation. He returned new and renewed, ready to preach and teach according to God’s Word.

We often think of Jesus hanging out on hillsides, drawing people into His presence with His words and His actions, but in this passage from Luke we see that He did not ignore or reject the established meetings of the Jews. He wasn’t worshipping God in the meadows or forests, but was worshipping God in the company of other believers. He was welcomed in this forum, welcomed not only to visit but to be a part of the conversation. This was probably not the Jewish parallel of the Sunday morning worship, but more likely compared to an adult forum or Bible study class. The people gathered to hear the Word and discuss it. Visitors who could read were given the chance to read, and preachers were given the opportunity to speak.

Jesus had a reputation by the time He returned to Nazareth. He had some fame and the word of His teaching was spreading all over the region. By the time He entered the synagogue in Nazareth, most of the people in that town had heard some story about Jesus. There were probably some expectations, especially since Jesus was a local boy. If Jesus could do and say things with such amazing power and Spirit, then He would do even more in His home.

What were they expecting? We will know better when we hear their response in next week. What we do discover in this week’s lesson is Jesus’ purpose. He has come to set people free, to bring healing and wholeness to their lives. He has come “to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Now is the time. Today is the day.

Jesus said that He came to preach good tidings to the poor. He came to bring sight to the blind. He came to heal the wounds of the people. Since Nazareth was among the lowest of all cities in Israel, this must have been good news. Perhaps they would finally be filled, satisfied and recognized. Perhaps they would finally be accepted as a place of God’s blessings as He fills their stomachs, satisfies their needs and heals their hurts. Perhaps Nazareth would be the shining light, the place where God reveals His glory to the world.

There in their synagogue they were hearing the fulfillment of scriptures. Perhaps To-Day would be the day their desires would be fulfilled.

God’s Word has a way of cutting to our hearts, bringing out emotions that we may not even know are buried there. God’s Word convicts us. He causes us to see into the very depths of our souls. When we hear His Word with believing hearts, we realize how deeply we have grieved our Lord by our rebellion. We grieve with Him, knowing that there is no one but ourselves to blame for suffering the consequences of our sin. God’s Word of Law helps us realize that we are nothing, that we have nothing without Him. Then God’s Word of grace calls us to celebrate as we are joined in faith to His body and gifted to continue His work in the world.

God had a plan, a plan to restore His people and to redeem them. When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem, God helped them restore the city and the temple to its former glory. Then He called them together to hear His Word. Though the hearing caused them to mourn, they were reminded that it was a day to rejoice. The salvation of God came to the people, they were set free to live and love and share everything they have with the world.

The good news is that we are saved from ourselves. God has given us the faith to believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of all His promises. He was the Messiah for whom they waited even if they did not believe. Nothing He did would have changed that because they did not have faith. They saw the authority of His words and the miraculous actions, but the people of Nazareth were not quite so ready to hear God’s Word.

These scriptures call us to be like the returning exiles rather than the Nazarenes. We can become part of what He is doing in this world because of the faith He has given us. He has been revealed in the scriptures and in His Son, and now He is revealed through us, ordinary people in an ordinary world speaking the most extraordinary message ever given. We might mourn our failure, but the promise is as true for us as it was for all those in the past, transforming our grief into joy.