(This sermon was given on January 27, 2013, at Central Lutheran Church, Anchorage, Alaska. The text for the day was Luke 4:14-21, Epiphany 3C).
What did you want to be when you grew up? What did you
tell people? What did you tell yourself? It's been said that the gifts and
skills we exhibit in early childhood may be a predictor of our true calling and
vocation. What did you like to do as a child? When I was young, I liked to
memorize books and then act them out, so maybe that's not too far off. But I
also wanted to be an astronaut, and then the Challenger blew up. Then I decided
to be an on-the-earth astronomer, but when I took high school math and
chemistry, I realized I didn't like equations. So, oh, well, here I am.
Think back on what you wanted to be when you grew up.
Think back on how you thought your life would work out. Did everything go as
planned? Did anything go as planned? Very few of us would have planned for the
sudden death of a loved one, being fired from a job or a relationship ending.
We didn't know, perhaps, when we were younger, that life would bring us pain,
frustration, boredom, grief, anger, fear or anxiety. We didn't plan for death,
stroke, cancer, divorce or depression. I don't know about you, but I have often
felt like a cartoon character I once saw who got mad when his fellow actors
weren't following their lines. He screamed, “None of this is in the script!”
In the gospel lesson for today, Jesus returns to his
hometown, Nazareth, and news of his fame goes before him. He had been teaching
throughout Galilee and everyone was impressed. Perhaps it was his strong speaking
voice, his deep and soulful gaze or his astonishing grasp of the Torah and
Jewish traditions. By the time he got to Nazareth, any number of people were
already expecting what Jesus might do when he “grew up,” that is, what he might
accomplish. Perhaps he'd be a wise and inspiring rabbi that reassured them of
their status as the chosen ones. Maybe he'd become political force to overtake
the Romans. There were so many things Jesus might be and people had plans.
Jesus had plans, too. He had his own ideas about what his
life would look like, about his life's work. These are Jesus’ first words in
the gospel of Luke and it’s a sort of inaugural address. Here’s what you can
expect in the coming years, here’s a vision. Jesus walks into the synagogue at
Nazareth and reads from Isaiah. When Jesus sat down, it was so quiet you could
hear a pin drop. Perhaps the people were thinking, “Well, that's nice. Can't
argue with Isaiah.” The eyes of all were fixed on him. Then he said, “Today
this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Hmmm. What does he mean,
the crowd wondered? Does this mean he is the Messiah? Is he the powerful leader
we hoped for?
Our story ends here, for the week. You'll have to stay
tuned next week to hear what Jesus says next and how the people react. Here's a
teaser: the people are not too happy about Jesus' next words.
Let's stay with the words Jesus speaks here. He's quoting
from two different portions of Isaiah, chapters 58 and 61, and references
Leviticus 25, regarding the Jubilee year. His words aren't just quoting
scripture; Jesus is telling us what he's going to do when he grows up. He's
telling us what his life and work will be about. He'll bring good news to the
poor, give sight to the blind and release the captives. He'll do this in myriad
ways throughout the gospel of Luke. Jesus may have gotten inspiration from
Isaiah, but his words are similar to his mother's vision of what God's world
could be. Mary's song, the Magnificat, echoes these same themes. Hmmm. Maybe
mother really does know best.
Jesus' whole life and ministry will be about proclaiming
the good news. And who is the good news for? The poor, the captive, the blind
and the oppressed. Did it say anything in there about the middle class
Norwegians? People who are doing just fine? People who have a lucrative stock
portfolio, a secure job or plenty of savings? What about people who take can
care of themselves, thank you, and don't want to bother anyone? Is the good
news for them?
The thing is, the good news is really only good news when
you realize you truly need it. Before the gospel can be good news, it's
terrible news. And the news is this: we all either have been or are
experiencing poverty, blindness, oppression and captivity. We may be physically
or spiritually poor. We may be literally blind or blind to the needs of others
or the way God is present in our world. We may be oppressed literally or we may
be overwhelmed by our work or family circumstances. We may be held captive
literally or we may be captive to depression, anxiety, self-doubt, holding on
to grudges, lack of motivation or life circumstances. Before we can hear the
good news of the gospel, we have to see the truth own pain, longings and doubt.
This is not the kind of truth we like to hear. One of the reasons Jesus was
killed was because he spoke the truth.
But when you've accepted the bad news about yourself,
you're freed up to hear the good news. God is good. God comes to you. God is
for you. God gives you comfort. God never leaves you alone. This is very good
news indeed. And when you've really received the good news and comfort from
God, you can give it to others, freely, and without holding back.
This brings us to today, to this place in time. Jesus
wasn't what the people expected, and our lives aren't always what we expect,
either. Our life as a congregation doesn't always go the way we had planned. Many
of the events, changes and heartaches of ministry that I have experienced were
not ones I expected or planned for in seminary. The events of last Sunday's
annual meeting were not exactly in my plan. As most of you know, due to budget
restraints, the congregation voted Sunday to eliminate the position of the
youth and family minster, effective the end of this month. I confess I'm still
upset and I'm really sad. Things do not always go the way we had planned.
And yet. And yet. The good news comes to us right in those
places and it does not leave us there. We do not emerge unchanged from an
encounter with God. An encounter with the good news gives us comfort but it
also sends us out to be the body of Christ, not just to the world but also to
each other.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians about dissension within the
body. That was true for the early Christians in Corinth and every congregation
since. It is even true, at times, for us. And yet. And yet. We are still the
body. We are still the ones called to carry on Jesus' mission of bringing good
news, release, sight and liberation. What’s our inaugural vision for Central
today? What hopes and dreams do we have for this congregation this year? How do
we join in Jesus’ mission and live out his vision?
A few requests: Please be extra kind to each other over
the coming weeks. Please be extra attentive to the gifts you have that can
contribute to the body of Central Lutheran. Please be extra willing to say yes
when one of the pastors or members of the youth committee asks you to help, or
asks you to share your faith story during Lent. Please be extra conscious of
the fact that when you don't think you need to be here at worship, we need you.
We need each other.
Please know that the God who gives you comfort and peace
has also entrusted you to the task of caring for others. Please know that your
vocation – your purpose that goes beyond your job – is grounded in our common
faith and life. Please know that when you were baptized into the body of
Christ, you received your first and true calling: child of God. Please know
that it is here that you are empowered to go out do all those things – big and
small – that you were really meant to do when you grew up. Amen.
