SET THE CAPTIVES FREE

A Sermon for the Third Sunday after Epiphany
January 21, 2007
by Pastor Laura Gentry

Luke 4:14-21

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When 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, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And 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. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Today, our scriptures describe two readings from the law and the prophets. They are powerfully dramatic readings that, if we really hear them, will pull at our heartstrings.
 
First, from the book of Nehemiah, we hear Ezra reading from the Mosaic law. The audience to which he is reading is the group of exiles returning to Jerusalem. And this is not a short reading like a one hour church service we’re accustomed to today. No, he reads to them from early morning until midday. What is exciting about this story is that the listeners really “get it”—they really understand what is being taught to them. They hear the law and they weep. They are so touched that they fall on their faces to worship the God who has delivered them from exile. Nehemiah reminds them that this is a holy day and a cause for joy and celebration and for sharing with those who have nothing. In the 12th verse, it goes on to say that all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions to those in need and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. Doing God’s will by caring for others is delightful. It gives them great joy!

The Gospel reading we heard today comes several centuries later. The people are no longer exiles but they are suffering again. This time, they are oppressed by Roman occupation of their country. The scene takes place in the synagogue in Nazareth, where God’s people have gathered to hear readings and preaching from the holy scriptures. Jesus is a hometown boy who has returned as an adult. He’s been baptized in the Jordan River, tempted in the desert, and has called his disciples to join him in ministry. Now, back in his own home church, it is his first public speech and he chooses to read from the prophet Isaiah.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Then, Jesus sits down. They would have expected him to stay standing and give them a sermon based upon this scripture. That was the custom. But Jesus sits down. And then he says the most amazing words: “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” What? They must have been a bit confused. This is Joe and Mary’s boy. He grew up next door and played with the neighbor kids. Now he is telling his townspeople that he’s a prophet? And he’s not just any prophet, he’s the one foretold by the great Isaiah and he’s not just here to do a casual, sweet little ministry. He make it clear that he is going to take on poverty, discrimination, incarceration, and all other forms of oppression!

Often times, our culture paints a picture of Jesus as meek and mild, as a nice religious figure. It seems we’ve tamed him over the years. But if we look closely at the Jesus of scripture, he is anything but tame. He is a fierce radical who is not afraid to take on whole systems of oppression for the sake of those who are in need. He won’t tolerate the sin of oppression. And he’s not afraid to catch fire for his views. He’s not bothered by being a troublemaker in order to do his Father’s will. Jesus is playing for keeps.

Why, then, should we try to tame Jesus? Why should we not take seriously his mission and carry it on as the mission of the church? Why are we not on fire with this work? Why are we not like the audience of Ezra who fall on our faces when we hear this message, and understand it and take it to heart and go out and do it?

This morning, I believe Jesus is calling to us. He is stirring us from whatever complacency we have gotten stuck in and inviting us to join him in his passionate vision for justice. He knows that this work will bring us joy. And he knows that the Spirit of God is upon us too, and has equipped us for this work.

As I was thinking about this call to service, I stopped by the website for the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). This is an advocacy organization of our church that works tirelessly on issues of oppression. Since 1939, they have been carrying on this ministry to welcome and advocate for refugees and other migrants. Did you know, for example, that there are 20,000 asylum seekers imprisoned in our country though they have committed no crimes? They have been forced out of their own countries for reasons beyond their control and when they seek help from the United States, they can be imprisoned for over four years? LIRS is working to advocate on their behalf to make sure there is enough funding to deal with their needs quickly and fairly to either repatriate them back into their own countries or become free and established in this country.

And what about this issue of slavery? Did you think it was over and done with? Think again. The United States estimates that up to 175,000 men, women and children are trafficked into our country each year and forced to work in homes, farms, sweatshops and commercial sex industries? About half of these people are children. Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000 to prosecute traffickers, prevent trafficking and protect victims. LIRS assists the federal government to help care for trafficked children who have been liberated so that these young people can be placed in foster programs to enable them to rebuild their lives. Click here to read more about this problem and what you can do to help: Trafficked Children Initiative.

These are just two examples of urgent issues of justice for the oppressed, issues upon which Jesus calls us to take action. Martin Luther King Jr. once said: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Jesus is calling us to be alive, to be radiant with joy, to be vocal about things that matter.

Truly, my friends, the Spirit has anointed us to set the captives free! The Spirit blows into our lives and calls us from silence, calls us from complacency, and calls us to do what we can, calls us to take action on behalf of the oppressed. How can we be silent in the face of such oppression when the Spirit has anointed us to do otherwise?

Will you join me in praying for the thousands of refugees imprisoned across our land? Will you take action by calling your Congressmen about refugee protection? Click here for an action alert from LIRS with information about calling your Congress people regarding this issue: Action Alert. Will you pray for the children enslaved in our country through illegal trafficking? Will you find out what you can do to help them? Will you seek other avenues of bringing Christ’s freedom to those who are captive?

Today, Jesus said, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Today—not just in Jesus’ day. Today—not in some distant future. Today—Jesus calls us to allow the Spirit’s power to work through us to joyfully participate in the work of liberation. Today—may it be so among us!

Let us pray:
Radical, lifesaving Jesus, be present to us today. Call us to the actions that you urge us to take on behalf of those who are captive. Be with all who are in prison, who are refugees, who are enslaved in this and other countries, who are oppressed in any way. Open our eyes and our hearts to those who are forgotten and unfairly detained in our world. Anoint us with your Holy Spirit again and again, so that we will be empowered to bring your good news to all those who need it. Embolden us to be a part of the exciting and wonderful work, which you began, of setting the captives free. Amen.

© Laura E. Gentry 2007