Today
this scripture has been fulfilled . . .
Part
one.
Big call;
in front of his home crowd, too.
The mood appears to have been generous;
initially.
A more modest, “begins to be fulfilled,”
might have been more judicious;
but then, unlike the majority of his
followers,
Jesus was never particularly cautious.
In most centuries
he would have been locked up
as a troublemaker, or a communist.
In 21st century Australia,
his middle-eastern appearance,
along with his gang of similarly
disreputable types,
would have generated
a substantial ASIO file by now.
Not to mention his wild talk
of freedom for the oppressed
and good news for the poor;
a call to revolution if ever we heard one.
And then, as if that isn’t enough,
he goes and brings God into it!
Big call!
Who does he think he is?
Part two.
The teacher couldn’t leave well enough
alone.
The crowd
were impressed;
initially
His incendiary manifesto
slipped through, apparently unnoticed.
It’s what happens in every generation;
so many miss the disturbing implications
of such radical and loosely labelled “good
news.”
For the poor, – only if the rich
can embrace the liberty of letting go;
for the oppressed, – only if the powerful
decide that they can do without their
privileges;
for the captives, – only if the fearful
choose
to risk their hearts, take on compassion,
and trust in the healing qualities
of grace and freedom.
And for the blind, – only if the unseeing
ones
can be persuaded to open their eyes
to see for themselves
the gathering wonder and shining hope.
But no; he won’t allow them to stay
in the comfort of their unlistening.
Before they can begin to get
even the smallest corner
of their collective crania around it all,
he provokes his native crowd
with the “no acceptance
in
the prophet’s hometown,” line.
Clever!
Who does he think he is?
© Ken Rookes 2013
Yes, two for the price of one, folks!
The gospel readings for Epiphany 3 and 4 overlap, so I thought I'd treat them as a pair.
Part one Epiphany 3, (Jan. 27), Part two Epiphany 4 (Feb. 3)
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