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14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:13-21 New International Version)
A happy and blessed Martin Luther King Day, dear ConCafe Family. Today we honor and remember a man who gave his life for civil rights. One of his quotes reflects his commitment to his life and ministry; "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stand in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Indeed. May you dear Friend live a life where your decisions and actions reflect your connection to God and God's love! Let us continue to pray for one another. Nellie, Carli, Eric, Sarita, and myself, thank God for negative Covid tests we took on Saturday. And later Saturday we found out our youngest, Caitlin, does have Covid. She is Eli's mom, whom we feared exposed us to this dreaded virus. Please pray for Caitlin and Eli. The other two members of her household are negative, pray for their wellbeing, Jesse, and our grandson, Liam. Pray for your needs and those whose names appeared on your church's bulletin yesterday. Why do we pray? Because God answers prayers!
It was not until we were there that I fully understood this passage. No one in seminary ever explained it in a way that compared with the actual being there in person at the ruins of the synagogue that may have been this very synagogue where Jesus preached and did the things that Jesus did and said. It was at the bottom of a mountain side and it took about fifteen minutes walking downhill. It was quite the different story after we finished our visit. (Use your imagination!).
It was on a Sabbath that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to teach in this synagogue, as He had been in other synagogues in the area. His reputation was growing and people came to love His messages, which was the message everyone had been needing. On this Sabbath day Jesus came into this synagogue, and please note one of Jesus' holy habits, "as was His custom." Jesus stood up to read and the attendant of the scroll brought Him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and He read what we know as Isaiah 61:1,2; "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclam good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Jesus rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant and sat down in the Moses seat. The seat is symbolic of the presence and power of Moses in their history, and signified the respect the congregation should have to the speaker as he was seated in the seat of authority to present the day's message. Jesus sat in the Moses seat and began His message by saying "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
The prophet's message is universal, for it was meant for all the world; The message of good news is for all the world's poor. The poor are at the heart of God's message, and more importantly, in God's heart. To receive good news the poor are blessed. Jesus also shares the commitment and passion for those who are prisoners of whatever stripe; literal prisons, spiritual prisons, or emotional or mental prisons; enough is enough is the message - be free! For the blind who cannot see physical things or blind to the spiritual realities, God wants to share sight and vision. And freedom for the oppressed. Are we any close to this reality? The obvious answer is no, which means we still have lots to do and miles to go. Only when someone hears, receives, believes and accepts the Lord, does that become the acceptable year in their lives. And while seated on the Moses seat, Jesus goes beyond the power and symbolism of Moses; He is King. And His favored seat? Your heart!
PRAYER: Loving Father, we thank You again and again for Jesus and Your message through Him for a needy world. Fill our needs and grant us love, compassion, and generosity, to serve Your world with faithfulness. Let us love all people and work for the dignity and rights of every person, whether we know them, or like them; in Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Use your "pulpit" to passionately love all people! (Everyone has an area of influence which is your pulpit! Use yours wisely!)
Receive my blessings of love and hope,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
