“You only get one chance to make a first impression.” I imagine you have heard this at least once in your life. Last year, a retired personnel manager offered advice to our graduating seniors, about start looking for jobs. He said, “Perfect your 15 second, self-introduction. Choose your words carefully.”
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ first public proclamation is in Nazareth. He goes to the synagogue, and when he has the opportunity to speak he asks for the Book of Isaiah. He unrolls the scroll and these are the words that he reads: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” When he finishes reading, Mark tells us that his next words are these: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
This was Jesus’ 15 second self-introduction; these verses set a first impression. We, his followers, ought to commit them to memory and look for opportunities to actualize their imperatives.
Just as Christian faith comes to us in community; it activates us into our community. The faith of Jesus is a faith is a faith which brings changes in our hearts, but also in our world. It is too little a thing that the Word of God would impact our attitudes alone. Surely it will change the way we live.
The poor, the blind, those who are oppressed – these are those whom Jesus lifts up in his inaugural sermon. As his followers, we lift them up, too.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment