We live in an inconsiderate time. As I write this, I am experiencing with you the unprecedented government lockdown to tackle the Coronavirus: remembering those who have already died, astonished at those who are wilfully disregarding such orders, and becoming anxious over the various myths and rumour that swirl our social media accounts. We live in a time of adversity, where my most natural impulse is to hoard as much as I can so those dearest to me do not go without. We live in an inconsiderate time, and I am a part of it. In Luke chapter 4:18-19, Jesus recites a famous Old Testament passage from Isaiah 61 and applies its fulfilment directly to himself. The passage uses a term translated as “release” or “freedom” applied for those who are bound or imprisoned. This idea was not new to Isaiah but was written into the festival season of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10) where Israel was to provide liberty to land and its inhabitants. It was a time of releasing social burdens and the collective sin of society, freedom of debt, slavery, poverty and oppression. Everything was to be made anew. This release was written into the social calendar of Israel as a marker of generosity, where all society would reset, releasing those bound or imprisoned. This would be done regardless of what adversity the nation faced. That is what Jesus claimed to do in that Nazarine synagogue. We need to have a Jubilee and Jesus mindset in this unprecedented and inconsiderate time. We are called to bring good news as Jesus did, releasing the imprisoned with a generous spirit. We need to look to the welfare of our neighbours, whoever they may be and ask, how can I help to release your burdens? To the single parent struggling to hold finances and entertainment for children, or to the refugee and homeless, uncertain about where their next meals are coming from. These are our imprisoned neighbours who are longing to be free. How can you bring Jesus’ claim of generous release to them?
6th June – Grant Naylor – Luke 4 14-44
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Grant Naylor
Sheffield
In Luke 4:14-30 we hear the famous story of Jesus at the synagogue in Nazaareth his home town. At first Jesus well received there, but as soon as speaks the truth the locals turn against him. We read: 28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. Jesus after all this hardheartedness could have been indignant and refused to do any more good for the people. Why should he do anything more for them? He came into the world to free us by his love, the love of God, and yet we try to kill him? Eventually we succeed. Sometimes we are so lacking in generosity that we cannot even receive a gift in good faith, the greatest gift that has come into the world, God himself – Jesus Christ our Lord. So what does Jesus do next? He persists in generosity. He immediately goes and helps those in need in vs31- 42. 35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. Jesus then goes on to heal Peter’s mother in law, who in a rare example, returns thanks by immediately getting up and serving Jesus. My brothers and sisters there might be times when we feel hard done by or under adversity when we think that we cannot be as generous as we actually should be. In these moments we must strive to be like Christ and give more fully of ourselves. In moments of rejection, struggle and adversity we might find that our hearts can be transformed more comprehensively after the pattern of Jesus’ Sacred Heart – a true heart which even forgave His persecutors from the Cross. In a former parish where I was working there was a faithful giver who helped a poor person financially every single week. One week the faithful giver had their mobile telephone stolen. It turned out that the thief was the man who had been receiving help from her. I wondered what would happen the following week? Would the person giving the help understandably walk away and give up on him? Would she refuse to do what she had previously done. To my immense joy, she chose the way of Christ – the way of the big heart, the way of generosity, the way of love. For as St Paul says in the letter to the Romans: To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality he will give eternal life. NIV Romans 2. 7.