Broken-hearted Epiphanies

January 22, 2010

It’s been a challenging week for many people in our community. From where I sit, I have seen so much grief and suffering. All week long painful stories have piled upon painful stories. This along with the very bizarre weather we’ve experienced this week in Southern California has made for an exhausting week.

But alongside all these stories I have been reading another story, found in Luke 4:14-21, which is our text for this Sabbath. This story, which Jesus quotes from the prophet Isaiah (chapter 61), speaking about one who will “bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind….” The text from Isaiah 61 includes one more phrase that Jesus leaves out for some reason. It says this person will also “bind up the broken-hearted.”

This the tension that I have lived with this week. On the one hand, living among a community of people, many of whom are experiencing a great deal of pain and loss. On the other hand, living with texts like these that declare, rather unequivocally, that Jesus has announced the commencement of a completely new reality; a reality characterized by healing, freedom, and good news.

During Epiphany we emphasize the revealing of Jesus as the Messiah. This Sabbath we sit before the text as the Spirit speaks a word of freedom and healing to us. If you are in need of God’s healing touch in your life this week I hope you’ll join us.

Grace and Peace,

Ryan