Lent 19

Luke 4:16-21
16When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

That's the text we used for youth tonight (well, last night at the time of this posting). We spent some time trying to understand who the captives are, who the poor and blind are, and who needs the freedom offered by Jesus. I was reminded of a sermon given by Tom Long at Candler a year or so ago. He told the story of a time when he had been pulled over for a traffic violation and in the time between receiving the citation and his court date, he did lots of research about the law in order to prove himself innocent of the charge for which he'd been cited. The court date came around and he had a file folder full of law and precedent, ready to make his case. When he stood before the judge, the judge told him the officer who had pulled him over was no longer with the department so there was "no one to bear witness against" him, and he was free to go. Tom Long reported that he was actually angry that he didn't get to argue his case. He ended by saying, "Isn't it funny that most people would rather be right than free." Whoa.

I was thinking about how much truth there is to that. I have so often struggled--mostly with myself--in order to prove myself right or at least hide my wrong. And all the time, I am free. I have been captive to my own guilt, shame, and feelings of imperfection. I have been poor, lacking in understanding and grace for myself. And I have been blind to the gift of God's goodness too often. I am in need of the freedom in Christ.