Delivering on the vision
20th October 2022
This is the reflection from today’s Communion service at Park. I didn’t know at the time that Liz Truss had resigned… We began with this reading:
Jesus 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, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
‘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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’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. He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’
All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked.
Jesus said to them, ‘Surely you will quote this proverb to me: “Physician, heal yourself!” And you will tell me, “Do here in your home town what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.”’
‘Truly I tell you,’ he continued, ‘no prophet is accepted in his home town.’
Luke 4.16.24
In that reading Jesus sets out his programme – his manifesto. Using e words from the Prophet Isaiah, he promises that he will be the one who will proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind and he will set the oppressed free. You can imagine someone standing on the steps of 10 Downing Street and saying something similar.
So what is the reaction to his claim? First of all everyone speaks well of him. We do love a Messiah figure – we invest in their vision – we get excited about the possibilities. When Tony Blair first came in some of us sang along with ‘Things will only get better’…
But then what happens next? At the end of our reading Jesus is predicting that this adulation won’t last. And he’s right – immediately after this the people of Nazareth apparently try to push him of a cliff.
We also very quickly turn against our leaders. And we seem to take a pleasure in bringing them down. That attitude has been very obvious in the media over the last few months – and days. I have to admit that I also spend too much time checking my phone with an unhealthy interest in who has now resigned and too much delight in the mess the government is in.
One of the watchwords of Liz Truss when she began as Prime Minister was delivery. We might use that test for Jesus – did he deliver against his manifesto? As the gospel goes on from here we do see him bringing the good news of God’s love to the poor – practically demonstrating God’s inclusion to those who were excluded because of their past, or their disabilities or their place in society. And he did bring sight to the physically and spiritually blind , and freedom to people who were oppressed in all sorts of ways.
Sadly, that didn’t stop the crowds turning on him – people are fickle. So we might ask – was that it? Was his manifesto just about his own life and work? In the words from Isaiah it seems to be a bigger vision…
I think this is where we come in. Two images from Jesus parables suggest that his work was never to be a blaze of glory – he wasn’t aiming for a great first 100 days, like American presidents. He says that the Kingdom of God is like yeast – that slowly transforms a huge lump of dough. And it is like a seed – as small as a mustard seed – which grows into a great tree.
We are part of that ongoing transformation and growth. We are part of the delivery. Jesus begins by saying ‘the Spirit of the Lord is upon me’ – and we have the same Spirit working within us.
So when we are tempted either to seek a new Messiah figure, or join in pulling down some leader or other, maybe we could listen to this challenge instead. Are we delivering on Jesus’ vision? Are we proclaiming good news to the poor and freedom to prisoners – with our words and with our lives? Are we allowing God to use us to bring freedom to prisoners or recovery of sight to the blind?
There is a cost to following this vision – as Jesus showed. We may not be in keeping with the culture around us. But there is also joy in sharing in this amazing, transforming activity – very aware of our own weakness and fallibility – but seeking God’s grace and the energy and wisdom of his Spirit.
Living Lord, as your vision echoes in our minds and hearts, help us to sense the possibilities that your Spirit brings, and the power of transforming love – and to be open to your work in and through us…
We think of those who desperately need to hear good news, to find freedom, and to be given new sight… Lord, may your love reach out to them through those around them, and through us…
We think of those who are our leaders – in this country, in this university, in our churches… We think of the challenges they face… Lord of all, help them, we pray, and when we are tempted to deride them or overpraise them, draw us back to our own calling to live out your love in our lives…