January 26, 2025 ~ Third Sunday after Epiphany
Rev. Beckie Sweet
There’s a story about an elderly couple that was walking out of church one Sunday. The wife said to the husband, “Did you see the strange hat Mrs. O’Hearne was wearing?” “No, I didn’t,” replied her spouse. “Joe Smith badly needs a haircut, doesn’t he?” commented the wife. “Sorry, I didn’t notice,” replied the husband. Then she said impatiently, “You know John, sometimes I wonder if you get anything at all out of going to church.”
People attend worship for different reasons, and often get different things out of going to church, sometimes depending on what they expect to get when they attend. For example, I wonder what the people who were in the synagogue in today’s Gospel reading from Luke expected to get out of the service. Certainly, they didn’t expect to see Jesus stand and read that particular portion of Scripture, let alone comment on it saying that Scripture was fulfilled before them!
What about you? What do you expect when you attend worship? I am guessing that there are not many who expect a true encounter with the Holy Spirit. And in this day of separation of church and state, we usually don’t expect worship to become “political.” Well, buckle your seatbelts folks, because the Spirit is moving in our midst as we worship and follow Jesus of Nazareth, who was very political!
As Luke begins the story of Jesus’ life and ministry, he frequently points out how involved the Holy Spirit is every step of the way. The Spirit in Luke leads, fills, and empowers the human family for prophetic work. Just to name a few of these ordinary folks-turned-faithful celebrities, there are Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, Anna and Simeon, and John the Baptist. Jesus himself is filled with the Holy Spirit at his baptism, and the Spirit accompanies Jesus into the wilderness for a time of fasting and testing. So, when we hear about Jesus being led by the Spirit in today’s text, we should not be surprised to recognize Jesus receiving the Spirit’s guidance, empowerment, and prophetic words.
In Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, in the synagogue in which he was raised, Jesus is professing that he is the One of whom Isaiah prophesied: anointed by the Holy Spirit to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. Indeed, he is even going to proclaim the year of Jubilee, right then and there! The news is, that to those who are at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, those who are most vulnerable and marginalized, those who are indebted, bullied, and mistreated, for THEM a Savior has come. THAT is what this simple, yet complex message meant to those in the synagogue.
What does it mean to us? Well, if Jesus was making a bold political statement and demonstration in his day, then that is what the Gospel means for us today. I am thinking about racism, prejudice, and Black Lives Matter. I’m thinking about refugees, immigration, and those fleeing poverty, violence, and oppression in their homelands. I am thinking about Ukraine, Gaza, Armenia and Liberia. I am thinking about the LGBTQUI+ community, and what Bishop Peggy Johnson told us are people of over 700 Gender identities among our us. I am thinking about the people of Southern California, Ashville, NC, victims of Hurricane Helene and even the nearby community of Ovid. I am thinking of our Indigenous siblings and people of every faith and no faith at all. I am thinking about economic systems that create and promote income inequality. ‘About those seeking strength through greater “fire power.” ‘And about the tragedy of gun violence in this land. And I could list still more.
You may be thinking to yourself, “I didn’t come to church today to hear about politics.” While others may be thinking, “She’s going to get into trouble again!” And maybe a few are thinking, “This is going to be fun! I can’t wait to see how far this goes.” Friends, this is a conversation we MUST have in an environment of faith. I am not going to talk about political parties. I am not going to talk much about your politics or my politics. I am going to speak about Jesus’ politics, because the Spirit, I believe, gave us this particular scripture passage today for a reason.
Jesus’ political identity begins not with any party affiliation, or loyalty to a human leader. It does not even begin with a certain group of constituents. It begins with his baptism. Jesus was immersed in the waters of creation, the heavens opened, and the Spirit descended upon him while a voice declares him “Beloved!” Jesus’ political identity, words and actions are driven, led, anointed, and filled by the Spirit. In Jesus’ wilderness journey, he overcomes the threats of temptations and corrupters of all politics: materialism, power, and self-interest. In the reading of the words of the prophet Isaiah, Jesus is outlining his political platform. He is casting his vision for the reordering of relationships.
From here on out, everything Jesus does will be grounded in a politics of good news, release, sight, freedom, divine favor put into action. This involves healing the sick, casting out demons, forgiving sins, feeding the hungry, raising the dead.
At the heart of Jesus’ politics is an unspoken and yet every present question: “Where does it hurt?” Remember, Jesus stated that those who are well have no need of a physician. He has come to save the sick. Where does it hurt? In the pit of your empty belly? In your heart as relationships are broken? In your soul as you fear for your future? In your home as it is shaped by violence? In your being, as you feel that no one understands who you truly are and how you love? Jesus’ political agenda is not determined or influenced by who is good or bad, an insider or outsider, a winner or loser. Divine favor is not given because the poor, marginalized, oppressed, and vulnerable are more righteous or not. Divine favor is given because God is good, and loves everyone unceasingly.
Where does it hurt? What if we, and our leaders (including political leaders) entered difficult and divisive situations with that question? What if we let that question establish our priorities and guide our decisions?
Presence with and compassion for another human being would replace the need for winning votes. We would listen more than we speak. Power would look like cooperation and collaboration. We would need to have the courage and will to stand with another in their pain, and the vulnerability to risk letting another stand with us in our pain. We would open rather than close places, people, and ourselves to the divine favor. We would know the fulfillment of “this scripture” here, today, right now.
That’s the kind of politics I want to support and be a part of. How about you?
It has been quite a week on the political scene in our country ~ which, of course, affects the whole world! The second Trump Administration has declared one executive order after another, each one raising fear, anxiety, and power for the white political elite.
At the Inaugural Prayer Service, I firmly believe that Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde was filled with the Holy Spirit as she concluded her message stating,
“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives. The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants; who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work in the night shifts in hospitals. They … may not be citizens or have the proper documentation. But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurudwaras and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. And that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. Good of all people in the nation and the world.
Bishop Budde was gentle yet firm in her demeanor as she challenged President Trump to live the faith he professes. President Trump and his Administration now have the opportunity to ask, “where does it hurt?” and do much to alleviate suffering. But, the past week has begun a pattern of inflicting immense harm in our nation and world.
David Bjorlin penned a song which Mark Miller set to music, the second verse of which is apropos for those of us seeking to live by Jesus’ politics. It states:
We will repent in love. Raise our lament in love,
Dare to dissent in love,
We will uphold your world in love.
We will persist in love, Choose to resist in love, and coexist in love.
We will enfold your world in love.